Infographic?    

Infographics are invaluable storytelling tools and a great way to share all of the wonderful things you provide to your community. They turn data into attractive visual representations that are easy for people to understand.

Why should you use infographics?

Infographics are great for making complex information easy to digest. They can be helpful anytime you want to:

·         Provide a quick overview of a topic

·         Explain a complex process

·         Display research findings or survey data

·         Summarize a long blog post or report

·         Compare and contrast multiple options

·         Raise awareness about an issue or cause

Here are some tips to make an interesting infographic  : 

1. Create an outline

An outline can help you to lay out the pieces of the infographic. Decide which points are essential for getting your message across. 

2. Have a clear title

Start by adding a title that clearly defines what your infographic is about.  There should be no mystery about what the story is that you are telling. Use a short, catchy title that is easy to understand and gets your target audience’s attention.  

3. Choose the right fonts

Limit yourself to two fonts for the infographic – one for the title and header and one for the body of the infographic. You can use a more fun or decorative font for your title and header but keep your body font simple, so it’s easy to read and not overwhelming when skimmed at a glance.

4. Choose the right colors

To keep your infographic easy to read and visually appealing, stick with no more than three to four colors that work well together. You can use your library’s branding colors, or you can create a new color palette.

5. Keep it clean and simple

Your goal is to communicate a lot of data in a simple, easy-to-understand way. Your infographic should not be so busy that it’s overwhelming or confusing to the reader. 

6. Graphics, graphics, graphics

When choosing graphics, make sure that they look like they belong together. They should have the same style and colors, if possible. This will provide a more attractive and cohesive overall look. 

7. An easy-to-follow layout

Organize your infographic in a way that flows and tells a visual story. There’s a natural hierarchy in how people in Western cultures view images and text. The most crucial information is more prominent, at the top, and typically read or viewed from left to right.

8. Use your branding

Add your library’s branding to the infographic so readers know that you created it.

9. Don't forget to promote

After creating your infographic, share it with as many people as possible. Upload it to your website, share it on social media, email it to your subscribers, and even blog about it. 

10. Infographics as advocacy tools

Infographics are fantastic ways to tell the story of your library and all of the activity and value it provides for your community. They serve as a succinct yet powerful tool to show all that you do, whether you are sharing with your board, foundation, or voters. 

 

Here is an example of an infographic created by Eagle Valley Library District for their 2019 measure:  

https://www.ebsco.com/sites/default/files/acquiadam-assets/eagle-valley-infographic-image-780.jpg

https://www.ebsco.com/sites/default/files/acquiadam-assets/eagle-valley-infographic-image-780.jpg