1. Find, Point, Scan:
Using QR Codes in your Library
May 14, 2012

2. Best Practices
1. E-mail laura.warren@credoreference.com with
Libraries Thriving questions or comments.
2. Share comments and questions in the chatbox.
3. Visit the Libraries Thriving Discussion Forum to
continue the conversation after today’s session
Online Seminar Series—Spring 2012

3. Introductions
Elizabeth Graves Julie Obst
gravese@nsula.edu Julie.Obst@cpcc.edu
Head of Technical Processes E-Learning Librarian
Northwestern State University of Louisiana Central Piedmont Community College
Watson Library
Online Seminar Series—Spring 2012

4. Find, Point,
Scan:
Using QR Codes® in
Your Library
Libraries Thriving Webinar Series
May 14, 2012

5. What is a QR code®?
A barcode that holds information
 Text
 URL
 Contact information
 Email address
 Google Map location “This is a qr
 Facebook profile code®!”
QR Code ® is registered trademarks of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED in JAPAN and other countries.

6. The Code-Which-Must-Not-Be-
Named
 Denso Wave—a subsidiary company
of Toyota
 1994
 The term “qr code”® is a registered
trademark of Denso Wave. (1998) Link to Denso
However, the technology is NOT Wave’s patent
page.
trademarked.
QR Code ® is registered trademarks of DENSO WAVE INCORPORATED in JAPAN and other
countries.

7. Other Types of 2D Codes
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_tagging
Microsoft Tag—high capacity color barcode
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Capacity_Color_Barcode

8. Workings of a 2D Code
From Google Chart Tools: Infographics
 Squares with equal number of rows and columns
 Numbers range from 21 -177 rows and columns
 A code will hold the amount of data equivalent to the
number of rows/columns. See chart at Google Chart
Tools: Infographics.
 “Version 1 has 21 rows and 21 columns, and can encode up
to 25 alphanumeric characters”
 “Version 40 has 177 rows and 177 columns, and can encode
up to 4,296 alphanumeric characters”
Elizabeth Graves
Northwestern State
Elizabeth Graves University
Northwestern State Eugene P. Watson
Elizabeth
University Memorial Library
Graves Head-Technical
318.357.6263 318.357.6263
Processes
gravese@nsula.edu
318.357.6263
318.357.5065
gravese@nsula.edu

9. Uses of 2D Codes

10. Uses of 2D Codes
 Connect users to…

11. Making and Using 2D Codes
 Generators
 Kaywa
 BeQRious
 QRStuff
 QRlicious
 Batch
2D
Code
Generators

12. Tracking 2D Codes
 Consider the following:
 What needs to be tracked?
 Information—What was most interesting/needed/used by
patrons?
 Maps of floors/building
 Specific userguide
 Specific URL
 Location—Which locations were used? Consider why.
 The lobby ones were used because they are where everybody could see
them.
 The same code on the bulletin board in the busy hallway was not used.
 Which one-- information, location, or both--may
have contributed to the success or failure of a 2D
code?

13. 2D Code Management
Systems (free)
 Bitly
(bitly.com)—Shortens long urls, tracks
them, and has real time stats.
 QR Mirror (qrmirror.com)—Creates codes
and tracks them.
 Snipurl (snipurl.com)—Shortens long
urls, tracks them, and can export into
EXCEL.
 Budurl (budurl.com)—Shortens long
urls, tracks them and has real-time
stats.

14. My Bitly Page

15. Phone Apps
 iPhone  Droid  Blackberry
 Scan  QR Droid  ScanLife
 i-nigma  Quick Mark  BeeTagg
 Neo-  Barcode  QR Code
Reader Scanner Scanner Pro
(ZXing)

16. Best Practices
 2D codes should lead to mobile-friendly
content.
 2D codes should direct people to
worthwhile content.
 2D code information should lead directly
to the page of information. To have to
click, click, click on a mobile phone can
take too long and may drive people
away.

17. Best Practices, cont.
 2D codes should lead people to an experience for
them—not for the code creator.
 2D codes should be placed and sized where
scanning them is easily accomplished. Placement
of codes on posts, billboards (driving?), or in busy
hallways makes scanning difficult. Additionally, if
codes are too small to read from a distance or so
big phones can’t read them at all, people will
become frustrated with the process. Most phones
can read up to Version 4 easily and quickly (Google
Chart Infographics).

18. Best Practices, cont.
 2D codes should be tracked to determine if
placement and content were successful.
 2D codes should be tested to make sure:
 They work.
 The content is mobile-friendly.
 It works on multiple phone types.
Based on Lisa Barone’s article “Even Bill Cosby Can’t Make Bad
QR Codes Funny” (online). Many sources in addition to this one
support each of these practices.

19. Email ME!
If you have questions later
or would like to see my
resources, find me at
gravese@nsula.edu !

20. Sources
 http://www.denso-wave.com/qrcode/faqpatent-e.html
 http://tess2.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4009:3c7n2n.2.6
 http://thedigitalnirvana.com/2012/02/heidis-wrap-up-on-the-qr-trademark-stir/
 http://greatreachinc.com/one-thing-about-qr-codes%C2%AE-you-probably-dont-know/
 http://gofranklingo.wordpress.com/2012/02/07/violating-trademark-by-using-qr-code/
 Google Chart Tools: Infographics
 Ashford, Robin. "QR Codes And Academic Libraries." College & Research Libraries News 71.10 (2010): 526-530. Library,
Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text. Web. 22 Mar. 2012.
 Ashford, Robin. “QR Codes and the Academy.” Library by Design. 25 Mar. 2011. Web. 29 Sept. 2011.
 Ashford, Robin M. QR Codes: What, Why, How & Where [Slideshare]. Trendy Topics Online Conference. (16 Mar. 2011). Web. 4
Oct. 2011
 Barone, Lisa. “Even Bill Cosby Can’t Make Bad QR Codes Funny”. Online Marketing. Outspoken Media, 17 Jan. 2012. Web. 28
Mar. 2012.
 Boulos, Maged N. Kamel, et al. “How Smartphones Are Changing the Face of Mobile and Participatory Healthcare: An
Overview, with Example from eCAALYX”. BioMedical Engineering OnLine. BioMed Central Ltd. 10 (2011) : n. pag. Web. 27 Mar.
2012.
 “Cracking the QR Code.” System ID Warehouse. n.p., n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2012.
 Edwards, Chris. “A List QR Code Generators”. QR Codes, Social Media and Small Business Technology. 708 Media Website
Design and Marketing, 18 Mar. 2011. Web. 26 Mar. 2012.
 Hicks, Alison, and Caroline Sinkinson. "Situated Questions and Answers: Responding To Library Users With QR Codes." Reference
& User Services Quarterly 51.1 (2011): 60-69. Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text. Web. 28 Mar.
2012.
 Mobile Future. “Mobile Year in Review 2010” [Video file]. Retrieved from http://youtube.com/watch?v=6mCkbrYKQyI.
 Mobile Future. “Mobile Year in Review 2011” [Video file]. Retrieved from http://youtu.be/aKAlzU90zA8.
 Odden, Lee. “Social Media Marketing Tools: 11 Tools to Shorten URLs”. Online Marketing Blog. Top Rank, n.d. Web. Oct. 2011.
 Pons, David, et al. “QR Codes in Use: The Experience at the UPV Library”. Serials 24,3 supplement (2011): S47-S56. Database. 22
Mar. 2012.
 “QR Code Details.” Google Chart Tools: Infographics. Google, n.d. 29 Sept. 2011.
 Shaw, Joseph B. “How Do QR Codes Work?” Family Business Tips. n.p., 5 March 2012. Web. 26 Mar. 2012.
 Tolliver-Nigro, Heidi. “Making the Most of Quick Response Codes.” The Seyold Report 9.21 (2009) : 2-8. Database.
 Walsh, A. “QR Codes—Using Mobile Phones to Deliver Library Instruction and Help at the Point of Need”. Journal of Information
Literacy 4.1 (2010) : 55-63. Database.

21. Linking physical
and digital
Julie Obst
E-Learning Librarian
Central Piedmont Community College

22. How others used them

24. How we used them

27. How we tracked them
• Copied libguide content to a QR version
• QR version included extras
• Discouraged use of QRs in library services that were not
linked to data
o Avoid saturation
o Constant education on how to use them

28. Data driven – Fall 2011

29. Not so data driven?
Spring 2012

30. Turn a libguide URL into QR stats

31. Thank You for Attending!
Elizabeth Graves Julie Obst
gravese@nsula.edu Julie.Obst@cpcc.edu
Head of Technical Processes E-Learning Librarian
Northwestern State University of Louisiana Central Piedmont Community College
Watson Library
Online Seminar Series—Spring 2012