What are infographics?
Infographics are a useful tool in presenting data visually They can help ‘tell a story’ or make data more insightful and understandable.
This can often be in the form of a chart or graph, accompanied by brief text to give users information quickly and easily.
What is in the toolbox?
- Examples of how library and knowledge services have used infographics effectively
- A “Training Tools” section. This introduces the elements for creating infographics.
- A “Useful Reading” section for more information on the use of infographics: from inside and outside the library sector.
Getting Started
- See Flickr or Pinterest for different styles of infographics
- Look at the useful reading section below
Suggested tools
- The following tools are widely used to create infographics. They are free and simple to use.
- Contact your IT department for advice if you encounter access issues.
To submit an example of an infographic you have created, contact Heather Steele (h.steele@nhs.net)
Useful Reading
About Infographics
Books
For some inspiring examples of high-quality infographics and data visualisations on a variety of topics, including health.
Consider adding them to stock for your library users.
- Krum, Randy (2013) Cool Infographics: Effective Communication with Data Visualization and Design. Hoboken. NJ, Wiley.
You can download a free chapter and there are links to the online figures in the book. - McCandless, David (2012) Information is Beautiful. London, Collins.
- McCandless, David (2014) Knowledge is Beautiful. London, Collins.
Tech Guides
- Elsevier Connect (2014) Infographic: Librarians and Research Impact
Discussion of the creation of an infographic by Library Connect which shows how librarians are helping researchers measure the impact of research - Infographics Design Team (2018) Top 12 Tools For Creating Infographics
Lists free and paid for tools for creating infographics. - Potter, Ned (2014) So you want to make in infographic? 4 useful options.
Ned’s article gives a useful tech guide to the infographic products on the market and is aimed at information professionals.
The Value of infographics
- Mashable UK (2012) How to Create an Awesome Infographic
The thinking process behind how to create an awesome infographic. - Neomam (no date). 13 reasons why your brain craves infographics
Discusses the science behind infographics. - Potter, Ned (2015) Library use compared with other things: a snapshot in 2015
Contains some good examples of statistical infographics and demonstrates the use of statistics to tell a story using various platforms such as Microsoft Sway. - Potter, Ned (2012) The Library Marketing Toolkit. London. Facet.
Discusses the value of impact and advocacy in libraries. - Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (2016) CLAHRC Oxford Infographic Gets Awards Honourable Mention
Details an award winning infographic produced by CLAHRC.
Examples of library infographics
- HEE Knowledge and Library Services Leads (2020) National Statistics Return Infographics
- Librarian Design Share
A community of creativity for librarians, people who work in libraries, and library students. …an open online repository of interesting library-related design.