Style guide

...for the content and delivery of print- and digitally-published materials in ALIA National Office

Introduction

ALIA house style

The following style rules apply for all documents — letters, brochures, web pages — anything which is distributed externally, or produced for external distribution.

Why do we have a 'house style'?

A uniform and consistent approach to the presentation of all published material enhances any organisation, and saves time in both the short- and long-term.

An ALIA house style already exists, and has done so for many years. It has been followed closely for all important documents, newsletters, magazines, journals and letters emanating from the ALIA National Office, but to a lesser degree for day-to-day communications and internal documents.

A large amount of repetitive work has been performed on internal documents to make them suitable for external publication. One of the aims of this guide is to eliminate this wasteful duplicity.

The benefit to work-flow will be appreciated by all. Please note that the word 'style' also encompasses 'function' in this instance. Your text files may look fine when printed, but whilst they look fine on paper, the text file may be full of hidden problems such as multiple tabs, double spaces, double returns.

So what can you do?

Learn how to use the search and replace function of Microsoft Word, and convert your existing documents to our house style.

Please do not just assume that because you did not create the document that it is not your responsibility, or that you will do it later when you have time (who does?) — it only takes a minute or so and will certainly save time in the longer term.

You will also then be able to make friends with those that have to work with your documents at a later date.

Please note: The publishing and design team will reject material until it has a reasonable level of conformity — material that does not conform to these standards will take longer to publish.

To the guide ... >>