+
QR Codes in an Academic Setting
University of Central Florida Libraries
Aysegul Kapucu &Rebecca Murphey
August 12, 2011
+Agenda INTRODUCTION:
What do they look like? What are QR codes?
Who is your audience? Smartphone users
your students & you
How do you read them? QR code readers apps Demonstration What can a QR code do?
How do you make them? QR code generator
How are libraries using QR codes?
UCF Libraries’ QR Code Examples
Other Libraries’ Examples
Pros, Cons & Issues
Best Practices
Additional Resources
+What do they look like?
HOW TO: Make Your QR Codes More Beautifulhttp://www.sq1agency.com/blog/?p=2719
+What are QR Codes?
QR = “Quick Response”
Created by a Toyota subsidiary in 1994; used for tracking automobile parts
QR codes are read in two directions, store more data Linear=up to 20 digits QR=over 4000 characters
Free to use and create
Background How it works
The Nuts and Bolts of #QR Codes
David HopkinsBournemouth University
+See the increase in one year!
49% of American ages 18-24 now own a smartphone! PewInternet.org, July 11, 2011
+What about you?
Who here has a smart phone?
Who has some kind of barcode reader app on their phone?
Who has read a QR code on their phone?
Who has created a QR code?
+How do you read them?
There is an app for that….
People with smart phones and an internet connection can take a snapshot of the code and find out what it says.
1.Get a smartphone
2.Get a barcode reader
3.Scan the barcode
4.See what happens!
+
#2 Get a barcode readerMake sure you get one that fits your operating system (OS) AND your phone make and model.
iCandy – Commercially tagged codes
BarDeCo – Decoder app for Chrome
QRreader—requires Adobe AIR + webcam
QuickMark—1D and 2D code support, webcam, drag-n-drop or screen capture
Desktop Readers/decoders
See http://www.mobile-barcodes.com/ to see what is most compatible with your phone
Apple App Store
NeoReader, Optiscan, Zappit
Android Market
Zxing Barcode Scanner
Multiple OS
Kaywa, i-nigma, QuickMark
Smartphone Readers
+What can a QR code do?
Point to a URL (web address)
Text
Phone number
SMS/Text Message
vCard
Geolocation
Wifi login
Social (e.g.,Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn)
+So why use QR codes?
For places in the library with no computers
For times when computers are inaccessible
For people on-the-go
For directing people to resources that are best used on a mobile device
For making the most of your print media
+Why would you NOT use them?
Many people still are not using smartphones—would you be alienating that portion of your clientelle?
Will they still be around in 5 years? 5 months? PRNewser poll (pictured,
left) is undecided.
+How do you make them?
Users can generate and print their own QR codes for others to scan and use by visiting one of several free QR code generating sites. Browser plug-ins usually
generate code with no analytics available
Websites often require registration, and provide limited analytics for free
Bit.ly goo.gl URS Shortener createqrcode Zxing Kaywa Beetag Snap-Vu Qrstuff
QR Code Generators
Firefox: QR Link Maker
Chrome: QR Code Tag Extension
Generator Browser Plug-Ins
+
Other LibrariesQR codes examples
Library Catalogue Records
Audio Tours
Directions to Library
Group Study Room Reservations
Scavenger Hunts
Subject Guides
Staff directory information
Stack signage
+Group Study Room reservations
Brigham Young University's Harold B. Lee Library uses QR codes for its library audio tour and for Group Study Room on-the-spot reservations (http://lib.byu.edu/sites/qrcodes/).
Each Group Study Room has a QR code by its number plate. By taking a photo of these codes with a QR code reader you will be directed to a page to reserve that or another Group Study Room in the library.
+Staff Directory pages and Research Guides
The San Diego State University Library is using QR Codes in its library catalog, on staff directory pages and on research guides.
+
Half Hollow Hills Community Library uses datamatrix codes on end stacks to lead patrons to subject guides on the web.
+ Lafayette College Library used QR codes for their 2010
Open House event geared to first year students, "Where in the Library is Carmen Sandiego: An Interactive Mystery Game". Students had to collect QR coded-clues from librarians stationed throughout the library.
+
There is no need to write vital details down. A simple scan will steer to or capture exactly what you want reader to see.
Reduce paper work.
Points to content optimized for smartphones (audio, phone#)
Peak an interest in technology.
Access to networks and hardware-potential cost to students
Not for those timid with technology use-know your students’ skill levels
Size and density of the codes
Overuse
Pros Cons/Potential Issues
Pros & Cons
+QR code best practices
QR codes should link to an action-oriented activity, such as a survey, mailing list signup, or Facebook like, not simply a website
Place QR codes where they are easily visible
Optimize your website or any landing page your QR code links to for mobile devices
Consider late-adopters; try to also include an SMS component in your project
+QR Code best practices
Test, test, test! Try Android, iPhone, Blackberry, Windows, and different browsers, as well as multiple brands of scanners.
Less dots=more readable. Shorten long URLs to give your QR code better resolution.
Put instructions on scanning adjacent to the code itself.
Track analytics and measure results to see what works for your audience.
Continued
+Additional Resources
Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki – QR Codes
HOW TO: Make Your QR Codes More Beautiful
Education QR Codes
2d code: QR code and two dimensional bar codes, news, views, and analysis
QR Code Best Practices for Gov 2.0
Articles & Presentations:
Ashford, R. (2010) QR codes and academic libraries CR&L News, 71 (10): 526-530.
Walsh, A. (2009) Quick response codes and libraries. Library Hi Tech News, 26 (5/6) 7-9.
Whitchurch, M. (2011) QR Codes and the Library: The Library Audio Tour. ACRL 2011 (Philadelphia, PA). 363-368.