QR Codes and Academic Libraries: Searching for the Tipping Point

Rosalind Tedford

Z. Smith Reynolds Library

Wake Forest University

ACRL Cyber ZedShed

Thursday, March 31st 2011

What are QR Codes?

Wikipedia Educause 7 Things….

How They Work….

First You Create Them(on computer or phone)

• barcode.com• bit.ly (add .qr to any

shortened link) • Kaywa• qrstuff.com • delivr.com • QuickMark (app)• MANY Others

Then You Read Them (on your phone or iPad)

What info can they provide?

•Link to URL •Phone Number•Email link •SMS Message•Contact Information•Plain Text

QR Codes in the Wild

QR Codes in the Wild

QR Codes in Libraries

More info on QR Codes in Libraries

Libsuccess.org: Libraries using QR Codes

Joe Murphy ACRL Webcast

CIL Presentation/LibGuide by Lauren Pressley and Kevin Gilbertson

QR Codes in libraries bibliography

So why isn’t everyone using them??

(other than the obvious reason that not everyone has smart phones yet….we’ll get to that in a minute….)

Learning Curve

No Standardization = No Control Of MessageScanlife OptiScan

QuickMark

QuiQR

So What Will Tip QR Codes?

Tipping Point: Cell Phone Saturation

Tipping Point: Smart Phone Saturation

Tipping Point: Smart Phone Users Using QR Code Readers

• February survey of U.S. smartphone users by MGH, • 32% of respondents said they have scanned a QR code. • Of those, 53% used the code to get a coupon or

discount • 72% said they were more likely to remember an

advertisement with a QR code

Source: CNN

http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/mobile/03/28/qr.codes.marketing/index.html

Tipping Point: Devices

Tipping Point: Sell us somethingWith a purchase….. Sends you to website…

Tipping Point: Give us something we want

Tipping Point: Make us curious enough to figure it out

Conclusions (don’t hate me….)

• Libraries won’t be the thing that tips most people to QR Codes

• BUT…..once the tipping point is reached, libraries will be VERY well situated to take advantage of the technology because so many of us are playing with them now

• We need to be conscious of the applications we make of them (don’t want to have them blend into the background)

• Do them because they are the best way not because they are the new way

• Remember what QR Codes need:• A smart phone with software• User must be standing still• Content that makes sense to deliver to a mobile device

Questions??

This presentation is available on conference schedule page

http://www.goeshow.com/acrl/national/2011/conference_schedule.cfm

My Contact Information

Photo Credits• http://feeds2.feedburner.com/elearningstuff • http://lonewolflibrarian.wordpress.com/2009/03/27/using-qr-code-in-libraries0

32709/

• http://blog.ovrdrv.com/tag/qr-codes/ • http://www.stylelist.com/2010/07/13/calvin-klein-digital-billboard-qr/ • http://mhclibrary.blogspot.com/2011/03/qr-codes-information-in-instant.html • http://

www.thedaringlibrarian.com/2010/12/hot-qr-codes-in-classroom-library.html • http://

mhms-media.blogspot.com/2010/12/cool-qr-codes-in-classroom-library.html • http://www.japantrends.com/qr-code-graves-give-a-memorial-window/ • http://www.pocketables.net/2008/06/how-to-get-att.html • http://att.com • http://verizon.com • http://www.flickr.com/photos/cimatti/5417945443/ • http://www.flickr.com/photos/mpm2006/5333302839/