Libraries and Infographics

So, I'll just come right out and say it: libraries need more cool infographics. To be fair, I didn't really know what an infographic was until recently. Our GOOD magazines actually have a fair number of them, as does Dwell, but I didn't know they had a name until I started using the Flipbook app on our iPad extensively. If (like I was until recently) you are unaware of what an infographic is, check out this handy article on the source of all of mankind's knowledge, Wikipedia:

"Information graphics." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.

As a regular reader of The Dean Files, you know how data driven libraries are. We have collection data, circulation data, assessment data, and many other large categories of data. Of course, one can simply look at the numbers on the page, which works, but (being a visual learner) I think data is far better visualized and represented in a combination of not only numbers, but also a helpful and well thought out graphical form. I think these graphics are especially helpful in sharing this data with library boards, administration, and patrons - it enables them to see the data in a "non-intmidating" manner. (I am intimidated by large blocks of numbers, but I can work though that. I can make quicker sense of the data if it is in graphical form, though.) To give you an idea of a great infographic that is helpful in a situation like this, check out this infographic:



See, you can assimilate and synthesize the massive amounts of numerical data in the chart much more quickly. And, as an added bonus, they (infographics) look cool:



I am thinking about libraries with an established "identity" meaning consistent formatting for their publications and public face. It helps to give the graphic an air of authority, as well as identification for the institution (and, maybe, some extra work for librarians who have good graphic design skills!) In the end, it's not another one of these: