Signage Inventory

The LEAD Signage & Wayfinding working group aims to inventory the signage in public space throughout the building as part of data collection efforts begun in fall 2015. The inventory will be used to assess needs and form recommendations during winter term.

Divide and conquer

Procedure

1. Volunteer to inventory a particular area of the building in the table above. The goal is to find and log all the signs in that area (with some exceptions - see "What to skip" below).
2. Use the Google Form to log each sign you find in your area. --I've found it fairly efficient to use a Chromebook (from the Circulation Desk) for the form and my smartphone for the photos --Katie W.
3. If you snap a photo of the sign, upload it to our Google Drive photos folder.
4. If you want to view or edit the results, open the Google Sheet tied to the form.
5. Once you've finished an area, please check it off in the table above.

Parameters

What to skip

(unless it needs attention for some reason)

• safety-related signage (for emergency exits, fire extinguishers, elevators etc.)
• art collection labels
• call number ranges in the stacks
• built-in signage for restrooms?

Photo examples

Definitions

Function

• Directional: tells where you are, directs you somewhere
• Instructional: explains what you can/can't do, tells how to do/use something
• Informational: describes/promotes event or service
• Other: combinations of the above

Format

• Architectural: built-in, permanent
• Semi-permanent: not built-in (added by staff), not TP (looks fairly official)
• Toilet paper (technical term!): temporary, ad hoc, shoddy