Tell Your Library's Story with Infographics: Tips From an Accidental Graphic Designer

Tell your library’s story with infographics:Tips from an accidental graphic designer

MAKING IT COUNT: CALIFORNIA LIBRARY

ASSOCIATION PRECONFERENCE 2014

@lindahofschire

SCHOOL LIBRARY IMPACT STUDIES

Lack of information

does not appear to be

the main problem.

Rather the problem

seems to be that the

available information

is not organized and

communicated

effectively.

-GAO Report

Stories are how numbers talk to people.-Thomas Davenport

By visualizing information, we turn it into a landscape that you can explore with your eyes, a sort of information map. And when you’re lost in information, an information map is kind of useful.―David McCandless

Numbers have an important story to tell. They rely on you to give them a clear and convincing voice.―Stephen Few

The Data Visualization Continuum

Excel chart/

number art in a

report or

presentation

Complex infographic

that includes a variety

of visual elements

The Data Visualization Continuum

Excel chart/

number art in a

report or

presentation

Complex infographic

that includes a variety

of visual elements

Where are you on the continuum?

PUT NUMBERS IN CONTEXT

Source: Data is Beautiful/Reddit

CHOOSE THE APPROPRIATE CHART

SIMPLIFY AND ESTABLISH A FOCAL POINT

SIMPLIFY AND ESTABLISH A FOCAL POINT

Image credit: Stephanie Evergreen

83%

98%

100%

100%

100%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Under 10,000

10,000-24,999

25,000-99,999

100,000-499,999

500,000+

LS

A P

op

ula

tio

n

Chart 1Percentage of U.S. Public Libraries with Websites, 2012

83.1%

98.2%

83%

98%

100%

100%

100%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Under 10,000

10,000-24,999

25,000-99,999

100,000-499,999

500,000+

LS

A P

op

ula

tio

n


83.1%

*

98.2%

*

83%

98%

100%

100%

100%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Under 10,000

10,000-24,999

25,000-99,999

100,000-499,999

500,000+

LS

A P

op

ula

tio

n


83.1%

98.2%

83%

98%

100%

100%

100%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Under 10,000

10,000-24,999

25,000-99,999

100,000-499,999

500,000+

LS

A P

op

ula

tio

n


83.1%

*

98.2%

*

83%

98%

100%

100%

100%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Under 10,000

10,000-24,999

25,000-99,999

100,000-499,999

500,000+

LS

A P

op

ula

tio

n


83.1%

98.2%

83%

98%

100%

100%

100%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Under 10,000

10,000-24,999

25,000-99,999

100,000-499,999

500,000+

Percent of U.S. Public Libraries with Websites

Siz

e o

f P

op

ula

tio

n S

erv

ed

In 2012, almost 1 in 5 of the smallest public libraries in the U.S. did not have

a website:

83%

98%

100%

100%

100%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Under 10,000

10,000-24,999

25,000-99,999

100,000-499,999

500,000+

LS

A P

op

ula

tio

n


83.1%

98.2%

STEPS FOR SUCCESS

1. Begin with numbers

2. Understand your goals and audience

3. Find your story

4. Establish your approach

5. Design, refine, repurpose

6. Share

Colorado’s BTOP Project

STEPS FOR SUCCESS



3. Find your story



6. Share

WEB TECH

WEB TECH

Mobile-friendly sites

Adoption patterns in larger vs. smaller libraries

Social media

Text reference

STEPS FOR SUCCESS



3. Find your story



6. Share

http://m

aste

r-degre

e-o

nlin

e.c

om

/info

gra

phic

-anato

my-o

f-a

-lib

rarian/

STEPS FOR SUCCESS



3. Find your story



6. Share

4 DESIGN GUIDELINES

1. Format—print, online, both?

4 DESIGN GUIDELINES


2. K.I.S.S.

4 DESIGN GUIDELINES


2. K.I.S.S.

3. Show rather than tell

4 DESIGN GUIDELINES


2. K.I.S.S.

3. Show rather than tell

4. Colors and fonts

STEPS FOR SUCCESS



3. Find your story



6. Share

INFOGRAPHIC CREATION SOFTWARE

PowerPointAdobe

Illustrator

PiktochartEasel.ly Infogr.am

WEB APPSEasel.ly Piktochart* Infogr.am*

Learning curve + + +

Templates + +

Fonts

Icon/image

options+ + -

Charts - +

Export + -

Flexibility - - -

*Subscription version is available with additional features.

+ = strength = neutral - = weakness

DESKTOP APPSPowerPoint Adobe Illustrator

Learning Curve + -

Templates - -

Fonts + +

Icon/image

options within

software

-

Charts +

Export + +

Flexibility/Power + +

Cost + -

+ = strength = neutral - = weakness

Modern Pictograms

State Face WebHostingHub Glyphs

QUESTIONS?

http://RIPL.LRS.org/

#RIPLeffect

Enrollment opens January 5

PL-EVAL: PUBLIC LIBRARY RESEARCH & EVALUATION LISTSERV

Welcoming all those interested in public

library research and evaluation, PL-

EVAL is a connecting point to ask

questions, share ideas, and learn from

experiences across the field.

Sign up at http://bit.ly/pl_eval

RESOURCESPresentation slides and infographic resources:

http://bit.ly/CLA_2014

THANK YOU!

Linda Hofschire

[email protected]

@lindahofschire

@lrs_co

www.lrs.org

Tell Your Library's Story with Infographics: Tips From an Accidental Graphic Designer

Data & Analytics

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