Take a look at Escondido Public Library’s LibraryYOU. It’s a great project about gathering local expertise and connecting library users. Yes!

I wonder if they’ll put these videos into their catalog search results.

Thanks Donna!

The color scheme is less loaded than the one from the University of Houston Libraries. And while the typography is stronger on U of H’s signs, the illustrations and general fun tone are wonderful.

From Jasper Morrison

Who isn’t familiar with that wonderful yellow frame?

It holds breathtaking images of exotic destination and mountains of nostalgia! It’s the flag of the editorial institution that National Geographic has established over the span of 120 years.

The eponymous yellow rectangle has seen virtually no change, much like the interior pages, since it first bordered the front covers of the 1888 launch issue.

I thought it could teach us a few things about timelessness in graphic design, so I randomly picked four issues to look at; March 1964, November 1988, April 2000 and a recent December 2009.

The Timeless Beauty of National Geographic

They also have a bookstore symbol. No people involved.

More info at Map Symbols & Patterns for NPS Maps.

This chart shows the upper/lower quartiles and median for circulation per FTE student. As you can see this data shows a much more dramatic drop in the circulation of library materials. Rising student populations hide this fact.

More from Will Kurt in his post The End of Academic Library Circulation?

Remind me again why we insist on grasping at straws with eBook outrage, holding on to an old model of librarianship?

Have a modern web browser? Check out this beautiful site: The Dangers of Fracking.

Great design, typography, and simple writing!

Here’s the pitch that Saul Bass gave to the Bell System when he was updating their identity. It isn’t a must watch but I’m posting it for a couple of reasons.

#1). The beginning is really weird. I can’t imagine how this played to a bunch of corporate execs. The 60s!

#2) The second part contains a nice introduction to logo design and typography. It also is a mostly non-annoying explanation of what logos and identities do. It also highlights how this identity was more than a logo. It was a system of elements that included a wide range of things – from jewelry to printed material to trucks.

Each impression contributes to the whole. Each signal, one piece of a mosaic.

Libraries would benefit from this attention to detail and holistic thinking.

I wasn’t successful, but I did find their strategic plan [pdf], which is worth looking at, for its substance and appearance.

If you’ve been fortunate enough to discover one of the 878 books we’ve left lying around Salt Lake City, you’re undoubtedly elated, but probably also a bit curious about our objectives. It’s simple, we love books and our greatest passion is in sharing this love and promoting literacy in our community, which is why we’ve emptied truckloads of free books specially wrapped in seven custom Weller Book Works covers all around town. So keep your eyes peeled because there are literally hundreds of great books out there just begging to be read and spread. If you do find a book, read it and leave it somewhere for someone else to find and enjoy. If you can’t wait to find one of our free books, come visit our new location at Trolley Square and we’ll set you up with something just right.

More from Weller Book Works

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.

Read more at Genre-X

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

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.