Learning Objectives

• Identify the unique characteristics of a screens for display
  
• Acquire acquire the ability to create a digital display
  
• Apply the above ability to complete the Assignment
  

Digital displays

Digital displays, employing LCD, LED, or plasma screens, serve as an electronic canvas for information, advertisements, and messages. These displays adorn public spaces, defining the visual landscape across a library.

Compared to static signs that don’t change and become invisible to users over time, a digital display is changed frequently and attracts interest. In a library digital displays are often at a high visibility location such as near the check out desk where users may need to wait.

Digital displays can also be grouped together for amazing effects, essentially creating a wall of screens where information and images can be tiled across all of the screens or each screen can be independent. Below is a picture from Brampton Public Library.

Logistics

There are a variety of ways that digital displays are created. Content management software can be set up within a large system to run multiple displays at one time. This can include screens, projectors and kiosks. In smaller libraries one screen is run with a usb drive.

An example of a content management software is OptiSigns. The software makes it easy to add your content to a variety of locations with more advance options to target various demographics. A library might have different content targeted to different types of users based on location in the space (eg. Teen content in the Teen area.) Or content based on different times of the day (eg. having seniors or teens content at times they are most often in the library.)

Below is a video which shows this in action, https://youtu.be/mwH0VZ7ilUc?si=nIwVmuWShf_9pzQc

Design

For both of those some design elements come into play that we’ve discussed in previous lessons. Concepts like the rule of thirds, contrast and using readable fonts go a long way towards good digital displays.

Elements more specific to digital displays take into consideration that a user may only briefly engage with the display so something that can be read quickly and doesn’t have a lot of visual clutter or too much text works best.

Uses

Digital displays in library can have many uses:

• to advertise library events
  
• display art from maker events
• advertise new books
• seasonal good wishes like Happy Ground Hog Day
• conversation starters like fun items like International Toast Day
• quotes
• welcome messages
• announcements
• advertise social media accounts
• popular books by theme - if you like ____ then you’ll like ____
  

Canva

For this assignment you’ll use Canva to create a 16:9 sized presentation that could be used on a digital display.

You have freedom to select any topic that would work in a library setting. Since this is an assignment that won’t be displayed publicly you can use any images you wish and you do not need to do a slide with citation. For example if you wanted to use an image of a book cover, that’s ok. You may also use Creative Commons or your own images.

It is 100% ok to use a template for the assignment. Be sure to read the assignment sheet for all the details of how to submit your assignment.

https://www.canva.com/presentations/ is the link to get started.

You will need to make an account however you should use the free account.

Below is a video showing how to make a Canva presentation in 20 min! https://youtu.be/hrgrFmV7aCM?si=bkgX08jWXvyiITLP

Summary

Digital displays allow libraries to engage with library users about a variety of topics. Some libraries also allow users to submit content for the library display. McMaster University Library has a submission process for this. https://library.mcmaster.ca/services/advertise-library-digital-signage