Making Smartphones Smarter in the Library: Reaching Mobile Users with QR

Code

Anne Morrow              Nancy Lombardo      Benjamin RawlinsUniversity of Utah       University of Utah     Kentucky State University

Overview

• What are QR codes?• Uses Outside of Libraries• QR codes in Libraries• Process and Management• Assessment

What are QR codes?

• QR, Quick Response, codes are two dimensional barcodes that can be scanned with a mobile device that has a camera. Once the code is scanned the device is prompted to load a webpage, display text, or other data contained in the code.

• QR codes were first created by Denso-Wave, a Toyota subsidiary, in 1994 as a way to track manufactured parts. Denso-Wave holds the patent rights for QR codes, but instead of exercising them they decided to make the technology freely available.

Using your mobile's marketplace, download a reader

• Participate in the QR code scavenger hunt by scanning the codes on the handout we've distributed

Why QR Codes are Unique

• Unlike conventional barcodes that can only store information in a horizontal manner, QR codes can store information both horizontally and vertically.

• Conventional barcodes can typically store between 20 to 40 characters.

• QR codes can store up to a maximum of 7,089 characters

Non-Library Uses

Delta Airlines

Grammy Awards

Best Buy

New York City

• 2,200 NYC Department of Sanitation Trucks Will Feature NYC Media Quick Response (QR) Codes Linking to a “How to Recycle” Video

QR code use in memorials

Uses in Libraries

1. way-finding2. online forms and registration3. research assistance4. services5. annoucements 6. immersive exhibits

Maps and Directions

1. Way-finding

mobile floor maps

1. Way-finding

1. Way-finding

Class Registration

2. Online Forms and Registration

feedback form

2. Online Forms and Registration

Reserve a room

2. Online Forms and Registration

3. Research Assistance

RSS Feed to Literature Search

• Diabetes search in PubMed:

3. Research Assistance

3. Research Assistance

Mobile Services Booklet

4. Services

iPhone App

4. Services

Mobile Website Flyer

5. Announcements

5. Announcements

 

Promote Digital Collections• Portraits of prominent HSC personalities• Neuro-Ophthalmology Virtual Education Library

6. Immersive exhibits

6. Immersive exhibits

Process

• Eccles Library using BeeTagg or QReateBuzz

• Generate Code for each instance• Track usage based on individual code

o Recommendations about size of code Cannot be too small

• Demo Library account Generate Code Show stats

Not too detailed, Not too small

Library Catalog QR Code from BeeTagg

Library Catalog QR Code without a shortened URLhttp://thoth.library.utah.edu:1701/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?dscnt=0&vid=UUU&dstmp=1284753616331&fromLogin=true

Can you read this? Your Scanner barely can either.

Benefits of Using QR Codes

• Push information to users at point of need• Specific information – Context sensitive• User takes info home via phone

o Save Web bookmarkso Save documentso Instantly use contact informationo Receive supplemental media (video, audio, images)o Conference posterso Tool for professional networking

• Can be scanned either from a computer screen or a printed document

Drawback and weaknesses

• Inconsistencieso Devices

Lighting level required Flash interference Device Browser

Some URL’s caught in a loop Display variances affect quality of information retrieval

experience o Readers

Variable performance Functionalities vary depending on device

o Partial decoding and decoding failures Contact information and phone number display as text rather

than information for an action to be performed

Assessment

• Tracking statistics in the cloudo Convenient and easy o Robust systems have been designed by

generator services to track usage for free unless terms of service change without

notice• Greening QR codes: the BeeTagg

experienceo Rethink o Recycle o Re-use

Further Reading

• Hampton, Dantrea, Amanda Peach, and Benjamin Rawlins. "Reaching Mobile Users with QR Codes." Kentucky Libraries 75.2 (2011): 6-10. Print. 

• Educause Learning Initiative, "7 things you should know about QR Codes."  ID:ELI7046 http://www.educause.edu/ELI/7ThingsYouShouldKnowAboutQRCod/163728 

• McCarthy, Graham, and Sally Wilson. "ISBN and QR Barcode Scanning Mobile App for Libraries." Code4Lib Journal 13 Apr. (2011). Web. <http://journal.code4lib.org/articles/5014>.

Questions?

Thank You