Ready to dive into QR codes or wondering how your library could use them? Learn how QR codes can complement or even kick start library promotions, collection discovery, and mobile services in public and academic libraries. The presenters will also provide how-to information and share their experiences with free and paid tools for QR code

1. Promotion and Discovery
Squared:
Getting Started with QR Codes
Anne Gresham – Springdale Public Library
Stephanie Freedle and Kathleen Lehman - University of Arkansas Physics Library

2. 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

3. Who uses QR Codes?
QR Code Users are:
 51% male, 49% female
 Typically between 35 and 54 years old
 College educated (63% of QR code users)
 71% have a household income of $50,000 or more
 Fastest 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.

4. 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
Memegenerator.com
Tolliver-Walker, H. (2011). Making Best Use of QR Codes: Gleaning Lessons from the Latest Data. Seybold Report:
Analyzing Publishing Technologies, 11(23), 2.

5. QR Code Uses (Non-Library)
 Coupons
 Find more information
 Enter sweepstakes
 Sign up for newsletters or other subscriptions
Starbucks KFC Nissan
www.mobilemarketer.com www.mobilemarketer.com www.autoblog.com

6. Social Networking
Take scanners to QR Code
owner’s social networking sites
Other QR
Code Uses
skanz.com
Museum and Nature Trail
Tombstones signage
Direct users to a memorial page Direct users to more information
Living Headstones® - Internet Connected Memorials
www.monuments.com/living-headstones
Attingham Park in Shropshire, England
mardixon.com

7. Fun with QR Codes
Pac-Man QR Code QR Code Tetris
Mashable.com money.cnn.com
Corn maze QR Code in Canada Knitted QR Code Pillow
abcnews.go.com www.etsy.com

8. Image credit: Katie Viggers, katieviggers.blogspot.com
…but what about libraries?

9. 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

10. Library Staff Say….
• ―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.‖
Poorwilliam.net
• ―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 • 15/34 responding library
libraries comes from the buy-in by the librarians; if
the librarians don't mention and make aware the use staff reported having never
of the QR Codes in different areas (bibliographic scanned a QR code outside
instruction, lib guides) or even use QR Codes
themselves, this can contribute to project failure.‖ of work

11. How Libraries Use QR Codes
 Direct 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

12. QR Code
Projects and Uses
www.makeroadssafe.org

13.  Purpose: Services and Programs Promotion
 To create a bridge between print and electronic
advertising
 Project:
 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

14. Generating a Free QR Code

15. 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!

16.  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

17. Generating a QR Code in BeeTagg

18. Shelf tags in the Physics Library

19. Instructions in the
Physics Library
Shelf tags by codes
8.5‖x11‖ signs on walls and end caps.

20. Unbound journals in
the Physics Library.
QR Codes lead to the
Libraries’ online
subscription.

21. A patron scans a
QR Code in the
Physics Library

22. The landing page the patron sees The electronic book the patron has
after scanning the QR Code. chosen.

23. Pitfalls of QR Codes
zebra-pictures.blogspot.com
www.technotalks.com
blogs.trinitydc.edu
Some patrons The content the code Patrons see them
have phones that leads to is not but don’t know what
look like this mobile-friendly the codes are
photography.nationalgeographic.com
Patrons don’t even
notice the codes

24. Further Reading
Ashford, 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.

25. http://www.123rf.com
Contact us
Stephanie Freedle Anne Gresham Kathleen Lehman
shamblen@uark.edu agresham@springdalelibrary.org kalehman@uark.edu