QR Codes presentation

Quick Response Codes allow users to scan a two dimensional barcode and receive A LOT of information.

 A QR Code is a matrix barcode that is readable with a smartphone or other mobile phone with a camera.  QR Code stands for Quick Response Code, because they access information immediately.  They can also be called 2D Codes, 2D Barcodes, Matrix Code, and Mobile Codes.

 They were invented in 1994 in Japan by Denso-Wave, a Toyota subsidiary.  Denso-Wave holds the patent to QR Code technology, but they decided to make the technology freely available to the public.  QR Codes have been widely used in Japan for years (Hampton, Peach, Rawlins).

 One QR Code can hold up to: ◦ 7,089 Numeric Only Characters ◦ 4,296 Alphanumberic Characters ◦ 2,953 Binary (8 bits) Bytes ◦ 1,817 Kanji Characters (Hampton, Peach, Rawlins)  QR Codes can link to: ◦ URLs ◦ Phone numbers ◦ Instant Messaging or SMS messaging services ◦ V-cards (electronic business cards)  They can also be encoded with text (Ashford)

 Have you tried scanning one?

 Commercial Tracking ◦ Capture statistics on who has scanned  Logistics ◦ Tracking mailed items  Inventory Control  Advertising ◦ Embedding product and warranty information  Air Travel ◦ Boarding Passes  Museums ◦ Virtual Tours (Hampton, Peach, Rawlins)

 Many phones now have QR Code Readers already installed on them.  If your phone has a QR Code Reader, simply take a photo of the QR Code and the embedded information will appear on your camera.

 If you have a phone, with a camera, that doesn’t have a QR Code Reader. . .  You can get one easily, usually for free, from multiple online sites.

◦ BeeTag: http://www.beetagg.com/en/ ◦ Kaywa: http://www.kaywa.com/ ◦ Microsoft Tag: http://tag.microsoft.com/home.aspx ◦ Nokia Mobile: http://mobilecodes.nokia.com/scan.htm ◦ QuickMark: http://www.quickmark.com.tw/En/basic/index.asp ◦ UpCode: http://www.upcode.com/

While, QR Codes are cool in their own right, they actually have lots of library uses:  Information Literacy Education  Basic Tools Education  Information Seeking  Reader’s Advisory  Displays  Marketing  Even Shelving

 Link to instructional videos  Link to authoritative electronic resources  Link to a quiz that tests and reinforce knowledge learned  Link to in depth print instructions  Link print materials to online resources on the same topic, such as: ◦ Previous Editions ◦ Educational and Government Websites ◦ Podcasts (Walsh)

 Layafette College Library created a game utilizing QR Codes that “that teaches participants about the library along the way” (Porter & King)  Kentucky State University Librarians suggested using QR Codes to link students to a short quiz to assess their knowledge before a lecture (Hampton, Peach, Rawlins)

Link to step-by-step instructions for how to use mechanical devices: ◦ Copiers ◦ Scanners ◦ Printers ◦ Microfilm machines ◦ Value Transfer Stations  University of Colorado at Boulder librarians created location specific signs. Those posted above copiers included the question: “How do I copy?” with a QR Code to scan for the answer.

 Link from the book shelves to subject index for what is shelved there (Porter & King)  Link to catalog record that allows user to upload call number information to mobile device (Ashford) (Porter & King) & (Walsh)  Link to an explanation of the contents of a special collection (Hampton, Peach, Rawlins)  Link to an explanation of shelving practices  Link to maps and video tours of the facility (Hicks & Sinkinson)

 Link to Read Alike books for popular titles (Porter & King)  Link to other books in a series for all series titles  Link to Amazon for customer reviews, book images, and tie-ins (Hicks & Sinkinson)  Link to music sites for music reviews

 Abilene Christian University Librarians created a display of books & photographs around the book Same Kind of Different as Me.  Using QR Codes to connect to: ◦ Videos of related events ◦ Complicated catalog searches ◦ Podcasts ◦ Online registrations for volunteer opportunities

 Link to a library’s text message reference service and other contact information (Ashford)  Link to the library calendar of events  Link to renewal functions (Hicks & Sinkinson)  Link to reservation making tools for Community Use Room Ashford) & (Hicks & Sinkinson)  Link to the library’s Facebook or other online community page (Hampton, Peach, Rawlins)  Link to download of mobile catalog app (Porter & King)

 Link to trailers for DVD s in the library’s collection (Ashford)  Link to audiobooks (Porter & King) and music (Ashford) in the library’s collection  Link audiobooks to author interviews (Ashford)  Link to reviews of books in the library’s collection, written by in house librarians, patrons, or on Amazon  Link to collection related activities, for example, Author Lectures.

 Kentucky State University librarians always need help shelving, but many work-study students do not work in the library long enough to learn their shelving system.  Using QR Codes allows student workers, with little training, to help with the essential task of sorting and shelving books.  Scanned QR Codes provide all necessary shelving information.

 Most of the sites listed earlier also allow you to generate QR Codes through them. ◦ BeeTag: http://www.beetagg.com/en/ ◦ Kaywa: http://www.kaywa.com/ ◦ Microsoft Tag: http://tag.microsoft.com/home.aspx ◦ QuickMark: http://www.quickmark.com.tw/En/basic/index.asp ◦ UpCode: http://www.upcode.com/

 We’ll use this site, because it’s the one I’m the most familiar with: http://qrcode.kaywa.com/  But first, we need something we want to link to, like your local library’s webpage or even a Facebook page.  Go to what ever page you want to link to and copy the URL.  Now, go to the Kaywa QR Code Generator.

Select the size you want. I made a Large QR Code.

Here are some options for saving the new QR Code.

 “Information embedded in [QR Codes] can be changed and updated without the extra expense of creating new codes for new promotions” (Hampton, Peach, Rawlins).  QR Codes “follow an international standard (ISO/IEC18004) that makes the many. . .applications that create and decode these QR codes interoperable” (Walsh)

 “As library users have become increasingly dependent on electronic access, librarians have worked to enhance their virtual presence with services such as instant messaging, with learning tools such as online research guides, and with research resources such as electronic databases. While these services are indeed valuable, the physical library remains an essential factor in supporting the research and learning needs of users” (Hicks & Sinkinson, p. 60-1).

Ashford, R. (Nov 2010). “QR Codes and academic libraries: Reaching mobile users.” ACRL TechConnect. p. 526-530. Baker, L. (2010). “Making physicaloObjects clickable: Using mobile tags to enhance library displays.” Journal of Library Innovation. 1(2). p.22-28. Hampton, D., Peach, A. and Rawlins, B. (Spring 2011). “Reaching mobile users with QR codes.” Kentucky Libraries. 75 (2) p. 6-10 Hicks, A. and Sinkinson, C. (2011). “Situated questions and answers: Responding to library users with QR Codes.” Reference & User Services Quarterly, 51 (1). p. 60–69 Porter, M. and King, D.L. (May/June 2011). “QR Codes in libraries: Some examples.” Public Libraries 50 (3). p. 25-7. Rigby, L. (March 2009)."QR Codes in libraries and higher education." Just Another Dent in the Damage. Downloaded from http://www.lexrigby.com/2009/03/26/qr-codes-in-libraries-and- higher-education/ 11/15/11. Walsh A. (2010). “QR Codes – using mobile phones to deliver library instruction and help at the point of need.” Journal of information literacy, 4(1), p. 55-64 http://ojs.lboro.ac.uk/ojs/index.php/JIL/article/view/PRA-V4-I1-2010-4

QR Codes presentation

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