[OPLINLIST] Do you need Photoshop or a ruler?

Wed May 29 09:49:02 EDT 2013

Photoshop: you can make a career out of learning that program. But 
buying it and the complete $2,000 Adobe Creative Suite won’t guarantee 
you better-looking flyers, brochures or newsletters. I’ve been using 
Adobe products for a long time and can say with confidence that 
Microsoft Publisher can substitute very well, if you know what to do 
with it. And you might already have it installed as part of Microsoft 
Office at no extra cost. But where do you start?

*Do some setup.* Desktop publishing programs have a feature called 
Master Pages. Objects placed on a Master Page appear on all the pages 
you assign it to in your document. This is true for elements like a logo 
or page numbers, but it’s also true of ruler lines which don’t show up 
when printed. Creating a simple set of column ruler lines on a Master 
Page, you’ve made a grid that simplifies the layout of every page.

*Put your content first.* In making the words fit onto the page, don’t 
ignore what they’re saying! Use the design to make your message easier 
to understand. You might put the place, date, time and cost of an event 
in a side bar to make them easier to spot than in a paragraph. If a 
photograph is important, make it big enough to be seen–two or even three 
columns wide. If a photograph doesn’t really contribute to the message, 
make it small or (even better) take it out. Make your design serve your 
message, not the other way around.

*Let’s put these ideas to work.* Come to the *Publisher Level-Up Lab* 
and you’ll not only see examples of this; we’ll work together to improve 
a document you bring to the Lab. It’s held on *June 12 at SWON’s office 
in Blue Ash, from 2-4 p.m.* Sign up here: http://tiny.cc/publisher-lab

Can’t make that date? New to Publisher? Want a more personal walkthrough 
or design help with more than one document? Let me come to you. You’ve 
got 4 free hours of consulting work with us if you’re a Supporting 
Member of SWON. Whether that’s one-on-one work with a solo librarian or 
bringing the Lab to your staff, the Level-Up Lab is ready to meet you 
where you need it. Contact Nathan at nathan at swonlibraries.org 
<mailto:nathan at swonlibraries.org> to work out the details.

Thanks, Nathan

------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Making Noise in the Library: Advocating for our Students and our
    Libraries

Sign up to attend the Distance Learning Interest Group and Instruction 
Interest Group Spring Workshop <http://bit.ly/135Zm8b> held in West 
Chester on June 3rd. You’ll hear talks from Buffy Hamilton and Bridget 
Faricy-Beredo at this event, hosted by ALAO. Sign up today! 
<http://bit.ly/135Zm8b>

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Connect to SWON online: Website <http://www.swonlibraries.org/> : 
Calendar <http://oh.evanced.info/swon/lib/eventcalendar.asp> : Facebook 
<https://www.facebook.com/SWONLibraries?sk=wall> : Twitter 
<http://twitter.com/swonlibraries>
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Calendar excerpts from the next two weeks.

  * *Gamification 101: Is Your Organization Ready for the Gamer
    Employees? <http://oh.evanced.info/swon/lib/eventsignup.asp?ID=520>*
    - (5/30/2013) - Online
  * *PLCH’s 41st Annual Friends Book Sale
    <http://oh.evanced.info/swon/lib/eventsignup.asp?ID=536>* - (6/1 to
    6/7/2013) - PLCH Main Branch, Downtown
  * *The 5 Secrets to Inner Confidence
    <http://oh.evanced.info/swon/lib/eventsignup.asp?ID=529>* -
    (6/4/2013) - Online
  * *Public Library Adult Program Planners Network (PLAPPN SIG) Meeting
    <http://oh.evanced.info/swon/lib/eventsignup.asp?ID=415>* -
    (6/5/2013) - Campbell County Public Library, Cold Springs Branch
  * *Library Directors/Personnel Directors (SIG) Meeting
    <http://oh.evanced.info/swon/lib/eventsignup.asp?ID=524>* -
    (6/6/2013) - SWON’s office in Blue Ash
  * *Get Over Yourself! Improving Your Library’s Online Presence
    <http://oh.evanced.info/swon/lib/eventsignup.asp?ID=528>* -
    (6/6/2013) - Online
  * *Ethnic Librarians & Staff (SIG) Meeting
    <http://oh.evanced.info/swon/lib/eventsignup.asp?ID=398>* -
    (6/7/2013) - UC Blue Ash
  * *Adult Planning & Services (APS SIG) Meeting
    <http://oh.evanced.info/swon/lib/eventsignup.asp?ID=427>* -
    (6/10/2013) - Dayton Metro, Main Library
  * *Virtual Learning for Your Library
    <http://oh.evanced.info/swon/lib/eventsignup.asp?ID=526>* -
    (6/11/2013) - Online

SWON Libraries - http://www.swonlibraries.org
10250 Alliance Rd, Suite 225
Blue Ash, OH 45242
phone (513) 751-4422 - fax (513) 751-0463

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.oplin.org/pipermail/oplinlist/attachments/20130529/72fe84ef/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image.png
Type: image/png
Size: 392 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://lists.oplin.org/pipermail/oplinlist/attachments/20130529/72fe84ef/attachment.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image.png
Type: image/png
Size: 136 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://lists.oplin.org/pipermail/oplinlist/attachments/20130529/72fe84ef/attachment-0001.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image.png
Type: image/png
Size: 153 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://lists.oplin.org/pipermail/oplinlist/attachments/20130529/72fe84ef/attachment-0002.png>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image.png
Type: image/png
Size: 223 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://lists.oplin.org/pipermail/oplinlist/attachments/20130529/72fe84ef/attachment-0003.png>