Library Displays

On one of my first days in the library, Shawn took me to the district printing portable--just behind the  Ann Richards buildings on campus and taught me how to operate the cricut cutters.  After a quick tutorial, she left me with very broad instructions to create a "New and Recommended Titles" poster and left me to be creative.  It was a lot of fun trying out all of the different designs on various crafting paper supplies.  I could have spent hours there making new display signs for everything in the library.  Its a tremendous resource to have available so close!  But it is time consuming and somehow even the short distance becomes un-workable when you feel tied to the library.  

Shawn mentioned wanting to re-vamp her signage in the library and it was a project I wanted to help with--but as I got immersed in the day to day library activity, the signage seemed to lose priority.  Also, when I reflected on the signage--I considered that it might be best to make a uniform message with the signs.  It could be theme based or at least coordinated effort with color and size.  

The Ann Richards Library already has general signs for Non-Fiction and Fiction sections prominently displayed--and the smaller signs noting specific dewey sections are all uniform in blue and white.  Overall I think they are easy to read and clear.  The Library space is noticably welcoming.  The design is open with flexible seating (which we learned from Elizabeth Pope--is the new trend in library design) and attractive neutral color schemes that follow the Ann Richards Maroon and Blue school colors.  The actual starburst mural design was painted by Shawn's husband Griffin Mauser.  Many people comment on the welcoming enivronment in the library and I can personally attest to its high level of student use and activity.  

When I was researching library design for class and for my practicum in general--I found that pinterest was a great resource for researching and collecting images of library display and design ideas.  Many educators and librarians have shared their successful display concepts on pinterest and they appear to be easy to understand and implement.  Shawn seems to shy away from overt book display areas--integrating themes or holidays--but she always has a nice collection of interesting and highly acclaimed books on the top of the shelves.  Its invting and a great opportunity to grab students interest and spark curiosity in a good book.  

Another change or improvement in the library design and fuctionality is the addition of the iPad 1's to the library shelves.  Ms. Mellen, Shawn's clerk, was inspired to use the somewhat outdated and mostly useless iPads to serve as an onsite catalog resource on the shelves.  Now students searching for a book can turn to the iPad to look up authors or title names if they are having a hard time finding a resource on the shelves.  Its a great idea--easily implemented and very useful for students!  I've even used it myself many times!