Walking Paper

Shaken and Stirred: A 20s and 30s Mixer at the Oak Park Public Library

Jan 31, ’12 6:00 AM

We know it’s hard to meet new people after college. Can you honestly think of a better place to meet someone than a library? Locking eyes over the Vonnegut section? Or maybe your hands brush while reaching for the last copy of Infinite Jest? Well, genre X is helping you out and shaking up traditional speed dating in an afterhours event open to all men and women in their 20s and 30s on Saturday, February 11th from 8:00-11:00 PM.

Help yourself to a drink on the house before diving into the mix. You’ll mingle with everybody during three series of short mini-dates, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Flirt with potential dates and stir up some new friendships. Cool off between heats with a trip to the cash bar. After you’ve made the rounds, let us know who has piqued your curiosity, and we’ll let you know if they feel the same way.

Print Material from the Gothenburg Library

Jan 30, ’12 11:44 AM

Last week I posted about the bold colors on the Gothenburg Library website. They got in touch and directed me to some of their print stuff that has the same look and feel.

I like it, and I especially like it for its consistency. See more at the Stadsbiblioteket Goteborg issuu profile.

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Calgary Public Library: Everything You’re Into

Jan 30, ’12 6:00 AM

I’m really impressed that this branding campaign was done in house at the Calgary Public Library.

Grant Kaiser, manager of marketing for the CPL sent some details:

Our “Everything You’re Into” campaign grew out of our extensive new branding project, which looked at all our interactions with customers and citizens, not just at the logo.

We tested dozens of potential slogans we developed in house with focus groups (managed by a research firm). “Everything You’re Into” was the clear winner. People felt it was accurate, believable, approachable, and positive, They also described it as a curious blend of inspiring and (positively) challenging – it made them think about themselves and what they liked, and then think about how the Library might help them.

All of the creative was done in-house, with the exception of the actual photography.

Once it’s over, we’ll do it again to see where the numbers moved. We test things such as top-of-mind awareness – essentially asking if you considered using the Library recently when you needed information, wanted something to read, watch, or listen to, etc. We also test recall of the actual campaign.

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Gimme from Scottsdale Public Library

Jan 26, ’12 2:53 PM

Gimme is a interesting discovery tool from Scottsdale Public Library. It has a fantastic visual design and it easy to use. Yes!

I can understand why they turned this into a web app but I’d also like to see something like this integrated into a main library site. Speaking of taking library users to perhaps disparate places, clicking “more…” on the staff reviews whisks users to the library’s reviews on Goodreads. I’d rather see an accordion function expand the rest of the review, keeping people on Gimme.

If you click through, be sure to resize your browser (or visit it on a mobile device and a desktop). This is the first responsive library related website I’ve come across. Really nice.

Perhaps they intended this to be used mainly on mobile devices. Clicking the “Reserve” button takes users to the mobile version of their catalog. Or maybe they just think the mobile version is better than their normal catalog and want to send users there.

With a little iteration this could go from great to really really great.

Top job, Scottsdale Public Library!

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Useful / Usable / Desirable

Jan 26, ’12 7:00 AM

Here’s a slide from a presentation that Amanda and I gave yesterday.

Something to aim for!

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Bold Colors on the Gothenburg Library Website

Jan 25, ’12 6:00 AM

Stadsbiblioteket Göteborg website

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Gothenburg Library Style

Jan 24, ’12 6:00 AM

The public library in Gothenburg, Sweden takes Sartorialist-esque style photos of people in the library. The photos are on their Facebook page.

Thanks, Donna!

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Nice Zoning Signs from the University of Houston Libraries

Jan 23, ’12 6:00 AM

There’s a lot to like about these signs:
1. Consistent use of a highly legible typeface.
2. Attractive visual design.
3. Clear, polite writing.

Comments (10)

Five Laws Cover

Jan 20, ’12 6:00 AM

I noticed this cover of “Five Laws” on the Otlet’s Shelf example. I’ve never read the book (gasp!) so I don’t know if the design is meaningful or just random. Is there a theme of three or thirds?

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