Library Signage Study

Held in the Dana Porter Library, University of Waterloo.

Session 1: Wednesday 6 to 8PM, August 8^th, 2001. Facilitator: Sharon Lamont
Session 2: Tuesday 10AM to Noon, August 14^th, 2001. Facilitator: Sharon Bissonnette.
Session 3: Thursday 2 to 4PM, August 16^th, 2001. Facilitator: Maureen McCormack

General Comments

We were amazed by the positive and speedy responses and that the participants were motivated to attend by "getting a jump on learning about the Library" and meeting other new students almost as much as the $20 payment. ¹ Orientation sessions in the summer - advantage - before the rush of Frosh Week. Some students prefer to be contacted by e-mail. ² Frosh week is too busy. This session provides an opportunity to meet others and to learn about the Library in advance. ³
The Library was initially intimidating to the participants but they felt much more confident by the end of the task.¹ Overwhelming! ² Participants felt overwhelmed when first entering the Library. Won't feel so intimidated in the future. ³
UW Library is far different from the kinds of libraries that most participants had used (e.g., library of congress classification, shear size.)^{1,
3} So Big!²
Information Desk well placed. Would go there first. ³
Interactive tours - are better than just listening. ² This exercise much more interesting than a tour. ³
Friends asked how they too could sign up and participate. ³
Things are hard to find if you don't know where to look.²
There's a difference between Information - implies general questions - and Reference (sounds very formal) - implies specific questions about books.²
The Red Book (Library of Congress Categories) was very helpful.²

General Observations

Good Signage

Information desk is like an invitation to ask for help.² Information desk - if need help, would go there. ³
Hours signs at the information desk. ¹
Circulation - easily recognised. ³
The signs by and in the elevators were very useful - however, the general consensus was that a new user does not go to the elevator until s/he knows were they want to go. ¹ Elevator sign for floor layout good, but not obvious. Generally one would go to elevator only when one knows what floor you want to be on. ³
Elevator signs really help.² Huge sign at the elevator was helpful.²
Range end signs were generally helpful but it took most people some time to understand them, therefore just roamed around the first time. ¹ Range signs good but too small. ³
At the front entrance - blue mini guide was helpful. ² Blue floor plan sheet "the best"³
The blue sign on the 5th floor. ¹

Confusing Signage

Hours sign is confusing. Building/Circulation/Information desk sign too small. Differentiate with colour.³
Many little maps are more confusing than one big one with "you are here."¹
The Library of Congress Cataloguing system is confusing. ² LC listing sign by elevator door is confusing. Expect to see subject areas on floors like "History" above. ³
Layout of floors. Found book by roving around. Had to go down to desk to ask for help. Not sure where start of floor is alphabetically.³
Photocopiers were cluttered with signage - hard to determine the cost.¹ Photocopier signs too small. ³
Stairwell signs. Not obvious (plant operations)³
Self-checkout - do you have an option to go to a person at the desk?²
Book return - to person or only in bin? ²

Missing Signage

Main entrance and Fire door entrance not well differentiated. Side entrance with its large stairway looks like main entrance.³
Building directory near the entrance.¹
There's no indication where to start.²
Library catalogue signs about the computers (many participants did not know that the catalogue was on computer) - suggestions were "Start here to find your book."¹ Over computer area about catalogue. ² No sign to say where catalogue is available.³
It's intuitive to look for catalogue on computer.²
Floor number, directory, and layout placed across from elevator and in stairwells on each floor. Generally felt that more directional information was needed on the floors including bathrooms, study rooms, and the stacks arrangement.¹ No signs showing layout, floor plans of upper floors.³
"You are here" on current floor plans.¹ "You are here", signs.³
Explanation of the call numbers so that the range end signs are more useful.¹
Expected to see signs like "History" this section.³
Men's washroom (3^rd floor) not obvious, had to hunt around.³
No sign in elevator beside floor 2 button to say this was the Main floor.³
Periodicals. ²
Group study rooms. ²

Suggestions

Make the entrance more visible. Some students went to the wrong side of the building. ²
Make current hours more prominent. "Hours in Library today" or "Hours this term."³
Blue sheets were the best for getting around. Should be laid out for each floor and available at entrance in some large format.³
Definitions - expand the TRELLIS terms to include Reserves and ILL. ²
More signs at the information desk. ²
Improve elevator signs. ²
Standardize placement of directories so that people know where to look.¹ Sounds like a floor plan with "You are here" is needed. Arrows! Consistency -same on each floor (6 to 10.) Condense the signs into one per floor - a directory on each floor visible when you get off the elevator - confirmation that you're on the right floor. ² Floor plan on each floor with direction arrows and a list of what is on that floor.³ Call number breakdown should be by the elevator as you exit, as well as beside each terminal.³
Stairwell door signs of what is on that floor.³
Hanging signs.¹ Signs hung from ceiling. ² Large hanging signs.³
Large sign "How to find your book."³
Colour coding system.¹ Colour coding or a theme to the signs. ²
Attention getting devices e.g. - neon green "TRELLIS Internet."²
Not - too much to read - that's too complicated & scary. ²
Not - Arrows everywhere. ²

Signage Committee

December 6, 2005