Page 1, the title page, should contain the complete name and
address of the school. It also should include the name of the book and
the year it was published. The photo or illustration on the title page
should be related to the theme of the book.
Each page should have a folio, or page number. The folio in a year-
book often contains a bit of art that reinforces the theme, as well as
words that describe the contents of the page—for example, Opening,
Academics Division, Track or Freshmen.
The table of contents should be at the front of the book, either on
the front endsheet or following the title page. It should list each division,
including the ads and the index sections, with a beginning page number.
The opening section should be the first two to four double-page
spreads, depending upon the length of the book. A double-page spread
is any two facing pages. The opening copy should introduce the theme
of the yearbook and explain why it was chosen for this year. The layout
for the closing section—the last double-page spread or two in the
book—should be the same as that on the opening pages. The copy in
the closing section should give examples of ways in which the theme
applied to specific events throughout the year.
The index is a key reference tool that should be a part of every year-
book, no matter how large or small. The index should be placed imme-
diately before the closing double-page spreads. It should contain the
names of every person, organization, major activity and advertiser in the
book, along with the page numbers on which they appear.
The colophon (pronounced “call-uh-fon”) is a technical description
of the book as a product. Colophons are references used by publication
staffs and publishers to find out technical information about a book. If
your staff likes the typeface used in another book, for instance, you can
check the book’s colophon to find the name of that type and the point
sizes used. Information in the colophon should include the name and
address of the printer; the number of copies printed; the special pro-
cesses used to create the cover; the finish, weight and color of the paper;
the typefaces and sizes used for headlines, body copy and captions; the
graphic techniques used, such as spot color, screens, size of initial letters
and tool lines; the computer system used; and the total cost, photogra-
phy budget and selling price. For easy reference, the colophon is placed
at the end of the index or on the back endsheet.
Acknowledgments should be given to everyone who assisted with the
book. These people include students who provided information or photos,
professional photographers, artists, secretaries, parents, administrators and
yearbook representatives. Acknowledgments may appear with the colo-
phon, but they should not be part of the closing double-page spreads.
A Public Relations Publication
Even though the yearbook is produced primarily for students, it has a
larger audience. Parents, grandparents, friends from other schools and
local businesses see or ask to purchase yearbooks. They are curious to see
how the students view themselves and show their school to others.
YEARBOOKS AND MAGAZINES^403
title page
page 1 in a yearbook, which
contains the school’s name and
address, the book’s name and
the publication year, and identi-
fies or reinforces the themefolio
in a yearbook, the folio is
usually located at the bottom
outside corner of each page
and may include words
describing the content of the
page and/or graphic elements
that reinforce the theme, in
addition to a page numbertable of contents
in a yearbook, a chart that
lists each division with its
beginning page numberopening section
in a yearbook, the first
two to four double-page
spreads that introduce
the yearbook’s theme and
ex plain why it was chosendouble-page spread
any two facing pages in a
publicationclosing section
in a yearbook, the last
double-page spread or two;
re flects the opening and
wraps up the themecolophon
a technical description of a
book as a product