Promotion and Discovery Squared:Getting Started with QR Codes
Anne Gresham – Springdale Public Library
Stephanie Freedle and Kathleen Lehman - University of Arkansas Physics Library
What are QR Codes? Two-dimensional codes designed for scanning Invented by Denso-Wave, a Japanese automotive company,
for inventory in 1994 Hold up to 4,296 alphanumeric characters (most UPC
barcodes only hold twelve digits) Easily scanned using built-in cameras on smart phones and
tablets
www.advancedtele.com nervoptik.deviantart.com
Who uses QR Codes?QR Code Users are:51% male, 49% femaleTypically between 35 and 54 years oldCollege educated (63% of QR code users)71% have a household income of $50,000 or moreFastest growing QR code demographic: Age 55+
econsultancy.com
*Data from 2010 Pew Research study, cited in Tolliver-Walker, H. (2011). Making Best Use of QR Codes: Gleaning Lessons from the Latest Data. Seybold Report: Analyzing Publishing Technologies, 11(23), 2.
QR Code Statistics from Online Marketers
ScanBuy: Scans per minute increased from 10 to 60 from April to June 2011
comScore: 14 million mobile users scanned a code in 2011
Mobio: 5,549% growth in scans, 2011-2012
Tolliver-Walker, H. (2011). Making Best Use of QR Codes: Gleaning Lessons from the Latest Data. Seybold Report: Analyzing Publishing Technologies, 11(23), 2.
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QR Code Uses (Non-Library)Coupons Find more informationEnter sweepstakesSign up for newsletters or other subscriptions
KFCwww.mobilemarketer.com
Starbuckswww.mobilemarketer.com
Nissanwww.autoblog.com
Other QR Code Uses
Living Headstones® - Internet Connected Memorialswww.monuments.com/living-headstones
TombstonesDirect users to a memorial page
skanz.com
Social NetworkingTake scanners to QR Code
owner’s social networking sites
Museum and Nature Trail signage
Direct users to more information
Attingham Park in Shropshire, Englandmardixon.com
Fun with QR Codes
Knitted QR Code Pillowwww.etsy.com
QR Code Tetrismoney.cnn.com
Pac-Man QR CodeMashable.com
Corn maze QR Code in Canadaabcnews.go.com
…but what about libraries?Image credit: Katie Viggers, katieviggers.blogspot.com
Survey Says…In a 2012 survey distributed on LITA-L, we found: 33/42 libraries surveyed already use QR Codes Those libraries generated an average of 18 QR codes in the
past six months The most common tools used to manage QR codes: Bit.ly,
Goo.gl, and Kaywa Attitudes toward QR codes were almost evenly split between
positive, negative, and cautious
www.zazzle.com
• “I think they can be useful in the right context, but it's easy to overuse them. Much in the same way signage can be abused, QR codes need to add something beyond the simple novelty.”
• “They need to add value, instead of just adding an extra step to information patrons could easily get otherwise.”
• “I think there are many potential uses for QR codes in libraries, but I'm not sure we are using them to their best advantage.”
• “I think the jury is still out. QR codes make libraries look "hip" but I don't know if people are actually using them.”
• “Yet another gimmick.”
• “I think a large portion of the success of QR Codes in libraries comes from the buy-in by the librarians; if the librarians don't mention and make aware the use of the QR Codes in different areas (bibliographic instruction, lib guides) or even use QR Codes themselves, this can contribute to project failure.”
Library Staff Say….
• 15/34 responding library staff reported having never scanned a QR code outside of work
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How Libraries Use QR CodesDirect patrons to
Library website or catalog Electronic resources—e-books, e-journals,
databases Library hours, maps, or meeting room or story time
calendars Initiate:
Text messages, phone calls, or emails Ask a Librarian services
Populate: Forms for scheduling meeting rooms Help videos Library audio tours or interactive display features
QR Code Projects and Uses
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Purpose: Services and Programs PromotionTo create a bridge between print and electronic
advertisingProject:
Created codes using QR Stuff (qrstuff.com) and Goo.gl (free and easy!)
Placed QR codes on printed library publicity materials (flyers, handouts, posters)
Created codes on an ad hoc basis using Goo.gl and Google Analytics for tracking
Generating a Free QR Code
Quick, Trackable QR Codes with Goo.gl
1.Take a monster URL (http://lib2go.lib.overdrive.com/BB7C892D-F3A4-4957-A8CF-F70E5140167C/10/673/en/ContentDetails.htm?id=AEBE3360-15D3-4886-9298-
A0D89693EA6E )2.Enter it into goo.gl to shorten it (http://goo.gl/T1WD8)3.Paste the shortened link into your browser and
add .qr (http://goo.gl/T1WD8.qr )4.Save the image and enjoy!
Purpose: Collection Discovery To make patrons aware of our online resources
Project: Selected 79 electronic items (e-books and journals)Created codes at BeeTagg.com (paid resource)Placed shelf tags of the QR codes in their
corresponding location
Generating a QR Code in BeeTagg
Shelf tags in the Physics Library
Instructions in the Physics Library
Shelf tags by codes
8.5”x11” signs on walls and end caps.
Unbound journals in the Physics Library.
QR Codes lead to the Libraries’ online
subscription.
A patron scans a QR Code in the Physics Library
The landing page the patron sees after scanning the QR Code.
The electronic book the patron has chosen.
Pitfalls of QR Codes
Patrons don’t even notice the codes
Some patrons have phones that
look like this
Patrons see them but don’t know what
the codes are
The content the code leads to is not mobile-friendly
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Further ReadingAshford, R. (2010). QR codes and academic libraries. College & Research Libraries News, 71(10), 526-530.
Hicks, A., & Sinkinson, C. (2011). Situated questions and answers. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 51(1), 60-69.
Dempsey, M. (2011). QR Codes: Fun Fad or Valuable Tool for Libraries. Journal of Electronic Resources Librarianship, 23(3), 294-297.
Mellon, M. (2011). Info on the go: Using QR codes to enhance the research experience. Brick and Click Libraries Symposium Proceedings, Northwest Missouri State University. 39-44.
Tolliver-Walker, H. (2011). Making Best Use of QR Codes: Gleaning Lessons from the Latest Data. Seybold Report: Analyzing Publishing Technologies, 11(23), 2.
Walsh, A. (2011). Blurring the boundaries between our physical and electronic libraries. The Electronic Library, 29(4), 429-437.
Contact us
Stephanie [email protected]
Anne [email protected]
Kathleen [email protected]
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