Adult Services Notes

Library of Virginia Training

Resources for Answering Difficult Patron Questions

Financial Literacy Resources and Virginia Law Libraries

News from Library Development & Networking

RUSA Online Training Reports

Canva and Design for Libraries: Page Layout and Social Media Design

Shelli Robertson, Lancaster Community Library, Sheena Johnson, Pulaski County Library System

I applied for this class to help me in better implementing Canva in my social media marketing process. The elements and principles section dealing with colors and lines was quite helpful in understanding streamlining posts to make them appealing to patrons.

The work on imagery and layering (sharpening and blurring as well) I found helpful, as we do rely quite a bit on graphics for our youngest patron programs. The information on text choice and design and usage gave some new ideas on choosing fonts based on audience.

For example, it was explained that using no more than 3 font styles per design is recommended as well as making sure the fonts compliment each other, to minimize distraction in the post. For designs focusing on adult patrons, it was recommended to use fonts such as Times New Roman instead of, say, Comic Sans to present a more mature look.

For images in a design, a point that was brought up was to scale the images with the textfor better visuals. For example, do not have your image take up 80% of the space while your font is miniscule, as the patron will miss the written information.

I think a course more in depth on the different aspects of Canva (such as the new AI function) would be beneficial, but overall I found this course to be beneficial to me in my role as Technology Specialist at my library in the social media marketing aspect of my job.

“Canva and Design for Libraries: Page Layout and Social Media Design” was a really informative program for someone like me- someone that had not really made it into the Canva realm yet. I had been using Microsoft Publisher for years and didn’t really have the need to make the switch. As more and more professionals were switching then I started to understand that the benefits and freedoms were much greater. This class provided me with first-hand experience using the application with someone that was comfortable explaining particulars that, frankly, would have taken me much longer to understand by working alone.

Some topics our instructor highlighted (that were particularly important to me):

• Basic design elements and principles on a successful flyer. Some of the most useful she highlighted were balance, rhythm, and harmony.

• Portraying the most beneficial information toward the bottom right of the flyer since this space is most often read. She all discussed other placements that were effective.

• Typographic design was discussed as it expresses fonts that are received well and she also indicated fonts that were complimentary to one another.

• She discussed some elements of copyright and fair use in regards to images and text and discussed some alternative options of finding copyright free materials.
  

The instructor also took the time to go through many options presented in Canva to give everyone a dip into the possibilities that are offered -- it was a lot of information, and she explained it well in our short time together. She made the material easy to understand and I am grateful for the opportunity to have taken this class. I have started working within Canva to create our library advertisements as opposed to using Publisher, which had been my general go to in the past. I look forward to the next opportunity that VLA has to offer.

Find It VA Tips

Transparent Language Online

Survival Spanish for Library Staff

What are some of the most common service points during which library staff may need to communicate with patrons in Spanish? Transparent Language has you covered on:

• Issuing a library card

• Providing computer assistance

• Answering the telephone

Learning Features

Transparent Language provides lessons on the basics of Listening, Reading, and Speaking. It has the added benefit of teaching learners to Write and to Type so they may immediately participate in social media and email.

Transparent Language includes 120 languages - 80 of them are non-English paired languages. For instance, Spanish speakers can learn French in their native tongue. It also includes English As a Second Language instruction from beginner to advanced immersion levels. 

Marketing Kit 

Transparent Language has a robust marketing kit for libraries. It includes materials for your web site as well as social media videos and posts for Facebook, Instagram, and X. 

You can choose among immediately useful promotional topics themed around holidays, events, time of year, and topic. Explore the Transparent Language Marketing Kit.

Recent Training

Network of the National Library of Medicine 101

NNLM offers training, funding, and access to the member network. Faith Steele, NNLM Outreach and Education Librarian, will provide an overview of NNLM, the current initiatives, and how it can support your health information outreach and engagement efforts.

Niche Academy is open to all Virginia library staff members and library associates such as trustees and Friends board members. If you do not have a Niche Academy account, please use your library email address to sign up. If you do not have a library work email, you may register with a personal email, and we will contact you to confirm that you are affiliated with a Virginia library. 

Grants and Opportunities

I Partner with My  Public Library Awards

Find out more about the award process and submit a nomination. Nominations are accepted through the end of August, 2024.

Readers' Advisory Tips and Tricks

Romantasy

If you are not sure where to start with romantasy, check out the titles tagged with NoveList Plus's newest genre heading "Romantasy." You can also find titles in this new genre heading by using this search GX Romantasy in NoveList. Looking for YA Romantasy titles? Check out this teen romantasy list from developed by Autumn Winters at NoveList.

Checking out the NoveList Plus homepage is a great way to keep an eye on trends in RA topics, as there is usually a new feature posted every month. So let NoveList help build your RA skills and knowledge. 

Program Ideas

Musical Bingo for Aging Adults

Featured Virginia Programs

Fairfax County Public Library

Korean Hanjigrim

Local artist and educator, Sophia Han, led Fairfax County Public Library users in a Korean paper illustration craft program on hanji, traditional Korean mulberry paper.

Hanji paper is traditional handmade paper from a tree native to Korea. While the hanjigrim craft gives an illusion of paint, it is composed of small pieces of traditional, naturally dyed paper pasted together by hand. Hanji contrasts tough durability with delicate and intricate textures.

For more info, contact Gabi Kim Huesca, gabi.huesca@fairfaxcounty.gov

Jefferson-Madison Regional Library

Plant Swap

The event has grown from a houseplant swap to swapping all kinds of plants.  Our partnership with the Piedmont Master Gardeners during the last two swaps has provided an additional educational component as well. We have around 100 participants each time.

For more info, contact Camille Thompson, cthompson@jmrl.org

If you have a successful or interesting library program that we should feature here, please submit a program description and images.

In the News

Recent articles on topics of interest to Adult Services

• Lynchburg Public Library to open new downtown branch
• With a different take on book clubs, Danville library starting up discussion groups
• Chesterfield Public Library hosting mental health resource fair
• Haiku trail to bring peace at Van Buren State Park
• Why Libraries are on the Front Lines in Supporting Mental Health

This newsletter is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services. It is published by the Library of Virginia Library Development and Networking Division.