Presentation explains what QR Codes are and how they are being used in libraries.

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

2.  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.

3.  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).

4.  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)

6.  Have you tried scanning one?

7.  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)

8.  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.

9.  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.

10. ◦ 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/

11. 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

12.  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)

13.  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)

14. 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.

16.  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)

17.  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

18.  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

21.  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)

22.  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.

23.  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.

24.  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/

26.  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.

27. Be sure this is set to URL

28. Paste your URL here

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

30. Click Generate

32. Here are some options for
saving the new QR Code.

34.  “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)

35.  “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).

37. 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