Find, Point, Scan: Using QR Codes in your Library
May 16, 2012
Best Practices
Online Seminar Series—Spring 2012
1. E-mail [email protected] with Libraries Thriving questions or comments.
2. Share comments and questions in the chatbox.
3. Visit the Libraries Thriving Discussion Forum to continue the conversation after today’s session
Introductions
Online Seminar Series—Spring 2012
Julie [email protected] Librarian
Central Piedmont Community College
Elizabeth [email protected]
Head of Technical ProcessesNorthwestern State University of Louisiana
Watson Library
Find, Point, Scan:Using QR Codes® in Your Library
Libraries Thriving Webinar SeriesMay 16, 2012
What is a QR code®? A barcode that holds information
Text URL Contact information Email address Google Map location Facebook profile
“This is a qr code®!”
QR Code ® is registered trademarks of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED in JAPAN and other countries.
The Code-Which-Must-Not-Be-Named
Denso Wave—a subsidiary company of Toyota
1994 The term “qr code”® is a registered
trademark of Denso Wave. (1998) However, the technology is NOT trademarked.
QR Code ® is registered trademarks of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED in JAPAN and other countries.
Link to Denso Wave’s patent
page.
Other Types of 2D Codes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_tagging
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Capacity_Color_Barcode
Microsoft Tag—high capacity color barcode
Workings of a 2D CodeFrom Google Chart Tools: Infographics
Squares with equal number of rows and columns Numbers range from 21 -177 rows and columns A code will hold the amount of data equivalent to the
number of rows/columns. See chart at Google Chart Tools: Infographics. “Version 1 has 21 rows and 21 columns, and can encode up
to 25 alphanumeric characters” “Version 40 has 177 rows and 177 columns, and can
encode up to 4,296 alphanumeric characters”
Elizabeth Graves
318.357.6263
Elizabeth GravesNorthwestern State
University318.357.6263
Elizabeth GravesNorthwestern State
UniversityEugene P. Watson Memorial LibraryHead-Technical
Processes318.357.6263318.357.5065
Uses of 2D Codes
Uses of 2D Codes Connect users to…
Making and Using 2D Codes Generators
Kaywa BeQRious QRStuff Qrlicious Quikqr
Tracking 2D Codes Consider the following:
What needs to be tracked? Information—What was most interesting/needed/used by
patrons? Maps of floors/building Specific userguide Specific URL
Location—Which locations were used? Consider why. The lobby ones were used because they are where everybody could see
them. The same code on the bulletin board in the busy hallway was not used.
Which one-- information, location, or both--may have contributed to the success or failure of a 2D code?
2D Code Management Systems (free) Bitly (bitly.com)—Shortens long urls,
tracks them, and has real time stats. QR Mirror (qrmirror.com)—Creates codes
and tracks them. Snipurl (snipurl.com)—Shortens long
urls, tracks them, and can export into EXCEL.
Budurl (budurl.com)—Shortens long urls, tracks them and has real-time stats.
My Bitly Page
Apps
iPhone Scan i-nigma Neo-Reader
Droid QR Droid Quick Mark ScanLife
Blackberry ScanLife BeeTag Scanner Pro
iPad Qrafter QR Code
Scanner Scan (may
come built in)
Best Practices 2D codes should lead to mobile-friendly
content. 2D codes should direct people to
worthwhile content. 2D code information should lead directly
to the page of information. To have to click, click, click on a mobile phone can take too long and may drive people away.
Best Practices, cont. 2D codes should lead people to an experience for
them—not for the code creator. 2D codes should be placed and sized where
scanning them is easily accomplished. Placement of codes on posts, billboards (driving?), or in busy hallways makes scanning difficult. Additionally, if codes are too small to read from a distance or so big phones can’t read them at all, people will become frustrated with the process. Most phones can read up to Version 4 easily and quickly (Google
Chart Infographics).
Best Practices, cont. 2D codes should be tracked to determine if
placement and content were successful. 2D codes should be tested to make sure:
They work. The content is mobile-friendly. It works on multiple phone types.
Based on Lisa Barone’s article “Even Bill Cosby Can’t Make Bad QR Codes Funny” (online). Many sources in addition to this one support each of these practices.
Email ME!
If you have questions later or would like to see my resources, find me [email protected] !
Sources http://www.denso-wave.com/qrcode/faqpatent-e.html http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4009:3c7n2n.2.6 http://thedigitalnirvana.com/2012/02/heidis-wrap-up-on-the-qr-trademark-stir/ http://greatreachinc.com/one-thing-about-qr-codes%C2%AE-you-probably-dont-know/ http://gofranklingo.wordpress.com/2012/02/07/violating-trademark-by-using-qr-code/ Google Chart Tools: Infographics Ashford, Robin. "QR Codes And Academic Libraries." College & Research Libraries News 71.10 (2010): 526-530. Library,
Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text. Web. 22 Mar. 2012. Ashford, Robin. “QR Codes and the Academy.” Library by Design. 25 Mar. 2011. Web. 29 Sept. 2011. Ashford, Robin M. QR Codes: What, Why, How & Where [Slideshare]. Trendy Topics Online Conference. (16 Mar. 2011).
Web. 4 Oct. 2011 Barone, Lisa. “Even Bill Cosby Can’t Make Bad QR Codes Funny”. Online Marketing. Outspoken Media, 17 Jan. 2012.
Web. 28 Mar. 2012. Boulos, Maged N. Kamel, et al. “How Smartphones Are Changing the Face of Mobile and Participatory Healthcare: An
Overview, with Example from eCAALYX”. BioMedical Engineering OnLine. BioMed Central Ltd. 10 (2011) : n. pag. Web. 27 Mar. 2012.
“Cracking the QR Code.” System ID Warehouse. n.p., n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2012. Edwards, Chris. “A List QR Code Generators”. QR Codes, Social Media and Small Business Technology. 708 Media Website
Design and Marketing, 18 Mar. 2011. Web. 26 Mar. 2012. Hicks, Alison, and Caroline Sinkinson. "Situated Questions and Answers: Responding To Library Users With QR Codes."
Reference & User Services Quarterly 51.1 (2011): 60-69. Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text. Web. 28 Mar. 2012.
Mobile Future. “Mobile Year in Review 2010” [Video file]. Retrieved from http://youtube.com/watch?v=6mCkbrYKQyI. Mobile Future. “Mobile Year in Review 2011” [Video file]. Retrieved from http://youtu.be/aKAlzU90zA8. Odden, Lee. “Social Media Marketing Tools: 11 Tools to Shorten URLs”. Online Marketing Blog. Top Rank, n.d. Web. Oct.
2011. Pons, David, et al. “QR Codes in Use: The Experience at the UPV Library”. Serials 24,3 supplement (2011): S47-S56.
Database. 22 Mar. 2012. “QR Code Details.” Google Chart Tools: Infographics. Google, n.d. 29 Sept. 2011. Shaw, Joseph B. “How Do QR Codes Work?” Family Business Tips. n.p., 5 March 2012. Web. 26 Mar. 2012. Tolliver-Nigro, Heidi. “Making the Most of Quick Response Codes.” The Seyold Report 9.21 (2009) : 2-8. Database. Walsh, A. “QR Codes—Using Mobile Phones to Deliver Library Instruction and Help at the Point of Need”. Journal of
Information Literacy 4.1 (2010) : 55-63. Database.
Linking physical and digital
Julie ObstE-Learning LibrarianCentral Piedmont Community College
How others used them
How we used them
How we tracked them
• Copied libguide content to a QR version
• QR version included extras
• Discouraged use of QRs in library services that were not linked to datao Avoid saturationo Constant education on how to use them
Data driven – Fall 2011
Not so data driven?
Spring 2012
Turn a libguide URL into QR stats
Thank You for Attending!
Online Seminar Series—Spring 2012
Julie [email protected] Librarian
Central Piedmont Community College
Elizabeth [email protected]
Head of Technical ProcessesNorthwestern State University of Louisiana
Watson Library
Recommended
