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Library Facelift: Syncing Library
Signage with a College’s New Brand
Amy F. Stempler, Assistant Professor
Coordinator of Library Instruction
College of Staten Island
City University of New York
Mark Aaron Polger, Assistant Professor
Instruction/Reference Librarian
College of Staten Island
City University of New York
Agenda • Introduction
• Background
• Determining Signs by Content and Mounting Method
• Determining "Decision Points"
• The Process of Replacing Temporary Signs
• Best Practice Guidelines Document
• Signage Placement Map (Locator Tool)
• Conclusion
The College
The College of Staten Island (hereafter CSI)
• Four-year, senior college of the City University of New York (hereafter CUNY)
• Established in 1976 from merger of Richmond College (1965) and Staten Island
Community College (1956)
• CSI offers programs in the liberal arts and sciences leading to degrees from the
associate to graduate level
• CSI moved to the grounds of the former Willowbrook State School in 1993
• The 204-acre campus represents the largest CUNY campus in New York City
The Library
• The Library is housed in the 1L Building, which also occupies the Cyber
Café, Academic Support, the Social Work Program, the Faculty Center,
Computer Labs, and a Public Safety satellite office
• The 30,000 square foot, three-floor Library features a large rotunda leading
to a dome in the ceiling. There are computers on all floors, though printers
and photocopies are only on the first two, as the third floor is designated as
a silent floor
o First floor: Circulation/Reserves Desk, Reference Desk and Reference
Area, and administrative offices
o Second floor: Library Learning Lab, Archives & Special Collections,
group study rooms, K-12 Text Collection, and additional office space
o Third floor: Circulating book collection, printed periodicals, individual
study carrels, and reading alcoves
Background: Signage Audit
In 2012, we conducted an audit of signs produced in-house,
omitting permanent, institutionally-produced signs.
We evaluated:
• language
• branding
• design
• ADA compliance
• consistency
• placement
This study was published an article last month in Public Services
Quarterly.
Signage Audit Results • Three generations of signs were discovered. Signage was
often outdated, and contained conflicting messages and
various designs
• Signs were classified into three typologies
o policy
o informational (promotional)
o directional
• Signs were assigned three mediums
o permanent
o in-house
o temporary
Examples- Handwritten signs
Examples-Taped-up & taped-over
signs
Examples-Clutter and outdated
signs
Examples-Contradictory signs
Step 1: Assess, Remove,Replace
Step 1:
• Perform a walk-through and account for outdated and incorrect
signage
• Determine decision points for replacement
• Remove and replace strategically
o Replace with more meaningful (and less) signs
o Add bulletin boards and large postered signage
o Avoid clutter
1st floor, informational and policy signs
2nd floor, mostly policy and some informational signs
3rd floor, mostly policy, some informational and few
directional signs
Step 2: Best Practice Document
• Create sample templates
• Create designs for different purposes
• Create signage map locator
• Create signage policy
• Assign signage contacts
• Adhere to ADA compliance
• Create a thesaurus for consistent language
• Gather feedback from colleagues and patrons
• Re-visit signs regularly
Signage Locator Mapping Tool
entrance to library's main floor
Signage Locator Mapping Tool
Step 3: Signage Policy 101
I. Mission Statement
II. Library Signage Classification
o signage message (promotional, directional, policy)
o signage type (temporary, in-house, permanent)
III. Design Checklist
1. Consistency
2. Font type
3. Font color
3. Sign orientation
4. Branding
5. Language
6. Tone (is it punitive?)
7. Visuals (photos)
8. Placement
9. ADA compliance
Elements of a Signage Policy
Step 3: Signage Policy 101
IV. Requesting Library Signage
1. Signage Request: Any staff or faculty member may fill out a sign request.
2. Signage Approval: All requests are forwarded to the Chief Librarian and the
designated signage contact person. Requests must be approved by the Chief
Librarian and will be prioritized by the following criteria:
a. Time sensitive events (Library events or programs)
b. Policy or directional additions or revisions
V. Installation of Signs
1. Permanent Signs
All permanent signs may be requested through the Chief Librarian. A permanent sign
request form will be made available through the Library’s Intranet Web Site.
1. In-house Signs
In-house signs may be requested by contacting the designated signage person. A
temporary signage request form will be made available through the Library’s Intranet.
Elements of a Signage Policy
Step 4: Designate a Signage Contact
Duties include:
• Perform an audit at the beginning and end of each semester
to account for currency and accuracy of signs
• Prepare reports for the Chief Librarian and update colleagues
at Department Meetings
• Evaluates and revises best practice guidelines
Step 5: Mounting and Placement
• Avoid visible tape
• Avoid placing signs over older signs
• Avoid taping on walls and furniture. Instead, strategically
placed bulletin boards and plastic holders are recommended
• To prevent glare, avoid lamination and placement under direct
light
• Consult the signage map to keep track of location
Step 6: Workflow Management
Create a workflow to:
• Confirm temporary (time-sensitive) signs are
appropriately removed
• Ensure that signs have not been vandalized,
damaged, moved, or lost
• Schedule regular signage updates
Conclusion
• Document guidelines and policies
• Make templates available
• Advocate that signage be on the departmental agenda
• Accept that departmental buy-in may take time
• Budget: Even in-house signage has costs
• Signs are living documents
