Here is my part of a presentation I did for the DuPage Library System’s Let’s Get Social series. I will post the audio archive when it is available.
Signage: Better None Than Bad
Applause are in order for my friend, and co-founder of the Deskset, Leah White for her article in American Libraries. In this beautiful crafted piece, Leah outlines the place of library signage in the library world. She states,
Many librarians and administrators agree that it’s important to communicate that the library is a pleasant and studious institution, but sign-makers go astray when they create signage in an effort to shift blame or passive-aggressively punish users for presuming they have certain rights while using the library. Such negative signage insults our patrons instead of guiding them or communicating policies in a positive and efficient manner. A well-written sign, inviting and creatively designed, can do so much; an insulting sign has the potential to do more damage than good.
It is very true. Good signage is a godsend, but poorly crafted signage insults and turns-off patrons. Well done Leah!
Filed under signage
Chicago Public Library Under Fire
Our local Fox news affiliate ran an inflammatory and libelous assault on Chicago Public Library’s on June 28th with a piece titled “Are libraries necessary, or a waste of tax money?” The piece was poorly done. The reporter showed a non-circulating periodical stacks area to “show the library is not used” among other slanderous untruths. The Commissioner, Mary Dempsey, respond with a firm but elegant response. In this beautiful crafted letter, Commissioner Dempsey refutes the reporters claim line by line.
The amazing thing about this story is that the majority of comments on the story or the Commissioner’s response seem to indicate STRONG PUBLIC support for the library. I hope we librarians capitalize on the groundswell of support we are getting from the public’s outcry over stories like this and slashes to our budget.
The Information Activist Librarian 