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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

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Know your audience

Google Analytics can help!

+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!

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#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

+Demonstration

+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.

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Just go ahead and DO ITQR codes are the only thing you’ll find where you can have all three!

+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

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UCF LibrariesQR codes examples

+Mobile Friendly Library Website

+Browsing Collection:QR codes on books

+Browsing Collection:QR codes on books

+Browsing Collection:QR codes on books

+New Books shelf

+PURL database

+Exhibits

+Internal Signage

+Special Events: Birthdays

+Special Events: MLIS Day Event

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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

+QR codes in the Library Catalogue Ryerson University Library Catalogue

+Using QR codes for downloadable audio tours

Ryerson University Library Audio Tour Online

+Library QR code in Google Maps Boise State University Library QR code in Google Maps

+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.

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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.

+Just for fun : QR Chocolates Chocolate QR Codes

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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.

+Questions & Answers

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