Date Approved

5-15-2005

Embargo Period

4-19-2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A. in School and Public Librarianship

Department

Special Educational Services/Instruction

College

College of Education

Advisor

Shontz, Marilyn

Subject(s)

Library signs; Public libraries--New Jersey

Disciplines

Library and Information Science

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to unobtrusively observe eight Southern New Jersey public libraries in eight different counties to discover if they were practicing the principles of good signage for the benefit of their patrons. A checklist of good signage criteria and ADA requirements was created and used to assess the libraries' signs. Principles of good signage and ADA signage came from prior studies. Using SPSS, frequency tables were generated for each question to show the signage percentages for the libraries in the study. The eight public libraries in the study rated well in the areas of signage design (typeface, spacing of letters, contrast, use of symbols, and color combinations), sign size, sequence and self-service, lighting, readability, effective and positive text, flexibility, and non-glare. Most libraries had at least one directory and signs to announce events taking place in the library. The libraries have poor signage issues, especially in signage consistency and ADA signage requirements. There was a lack of directional and identification signage, which may cause some patrons to ask repetitive directional questions.

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