The next adventure in opening my new library was creating the signage for each of the sections.  (I’ll be honest…this was the part that really got me excited!)  Once my awesome carpets arrived (you can read more about that here), I started working on ideas for the walls.  I knew my signage was going to have to be large and colorful because the walls were so open and bare.  I’m also a huge believer in color-coordinating, and knew I was going to want each section to have it’s own color.  So I started playing around with the main colors in my abstract geometric design that I had created.

The signage needed to be large so I decided to create banner signs.  I went to Office Depot/Max and uploaded PNG’s of each of the section signage.  I chose 6’x2’ in the Polypropylene material as it was the cheapest price.  Oh my goodness!  My heart was SO HAPPY when I picked them up and saw how beautiful and colorful they looked!  However, I realized the banner material was pretty thin. So my husband suggested I take it to Michaels and see if they can cut a backboard for the banners.  GENIUS!  They did for a modest charge, and then I spray glued each of the section signage onto the foam board.  Finally, I used Command Strips to hang them to the wall. 

So let’s look at each section a little closer:

Fiction Section Signage

At my former library, my Fiction Chapter area was in orange, so to keep it easy I decided to use that same color scheme.  After few variations, I decided to have the border color on the outside, then my abstract geometric design to add some additional color.  I used the same pattern to create the smaller signage that I would use on top of the bookcases to designate the 9 different genres in the chapter book section.  I also made one in yellow to go on top of the Graphic Novel section.  If you’re interested in getting these signs for your library, you can get the Fiction wall signage and the genre posters here.

Graphic Novels Section Signage

I decided to use the mustardy-yellow color for the Graphic Novel Section.  In my former library, I had these books at 741.5 in the Non-Fiction section (where the previous librarian had them).  When I opened my own library, I thought it made much more sense to put this section over by the Fiction Chapter books and label them FIC instead of 741.5.  If you’re interested in getting these signs for your library, you can get the Graphic Novel wall signage and the Graphic Novel bookcase signs here.

Everybody / Easy Section Signage

My Everybody section was blue in my former library, but that didn’t really fit with my new color scheme. So I decided to go with Teal instead.  Again, I used the Teal on the outside to make the section signage “pop” on the white walls, and then added the abstract geometric pattern to add more color.  I used the same idea to create the alphabet signs for each bookcase.  If you’re interested in getting these signs for your library, you can get the Everybody/Easy wall signage and the alphabet posters here.

Non-Fiction Section Signage

Non-Fiction was green in my former library.  So I went with just a different tone (more limey-olivey) to go with the colors in the carpets.  It also matched the big green light fixture that is above the circulation area. I used the same concept for the Dewey signs that I put on top of the bookcases. If you’re interested in getting these signs for your library, you can get the Non-Fiction wall signage and the Dewey posters here.

Biography Section Signage

I went with purple for the Biography section as the last main color.  After talking to my good friend/librarian Stephanie Beasley, I decided to change how I set up my biography books. Instead of arranging them alphabetically by the name of the person as I had been doing, I “genrified” the section.  Now at my new library, they are organized  by categories.  These categories are similar to the ones found on Pebble Go Biographies. This way, students could make connections between finding people on the database and finding them in our physical books. If you’re interested in getting these signs for your library, you can get the Biography wall signage and the Dewey posters here.

Once all my signage was up on the walls and on top of the bookcases, oh my!  It has truly become my happy place!  You can get all these signs as a bundle at my TpT store here. With the bundle, I also threw in a copy of my pencil holders and Professional Books sign. 🙂