A white background with black letters is considered the most effective in most libraries. Respondents identified 23 color combinations as difficult to read. The two color combinations most often cited as problematic are a red background with black letters and a dark gray background with white letters. Four color combinations were listed both as being visible and legible by some libraries and as difficult to read by others. Although most libraries use signs for strictly functional purposes, several have introduced more eye catching designs.
Some libraries use fluorescent and even neon colors effectively.
One respondent uses pictograms to pull together directional and instructional signage in the otherwise confusing networked environment. Construction Libraries tend to use a combination of sign construction sources, both in-house and outside the library. Library staff members make signs on an ad hoc basis in 47 libraries, and in two libraries an in-house graphic designer makes the signs. Libraries use a variety of materials for both sign background and lettering. The background material most often used is paper, followed by acrylic, plastic laminate, and mounting board.