Revealing Codes: QR Codes in Your Libraries

This session was presented by Krista Godfrey, MUN. QR codes are two-dimensional barcodes which can carry more information than traditional barcodes. The presenter called them “the new hyperlinks” which link the physical world with the virtual, linking to present the user with contact information, websites, audio/visual information, and so on. Users most often read QR codes with smart phones, but other devices such as iPod Touches and tablets with a camera and downloaded QR reader app can be used.

Quick Mark and Bee Tags are just two of the many QR readers available; for smart phone users, the presenter suggested googling “QR reader” and the name of the phone to find the most compatible reader for that device.

There are many possible uses for QR codes in libraries. Some of these include:

·         In bound serials stacks, to link to online holdings

·         On posters promote events and services

·         In stacks, to link to relevant LibGuides

·         To link to audio/video library tours

·         On equipment such as photocopiers or scanners, to link to instructions or video tutorials

·         On business cards, to link to blogs, LibGuides, etc.

·         In individual records in the library catalogue

There are a number of programs to create QR codes, including Kaywa, Delivr, goo.gl and bit.ly. The latter two examples are URL shorteners, which shorten a long URL to produce a more easily readable code. The codes produced by these programs, however, may expire, whereas codes produced by non-shortening programs apparently do not.

Some issues involved with using QR codes involve:

·         Inaccessibility to patrons with visual and/or mobility problems (watch for placement of codes)

·         Digital divide: not everyone has access to a suitable device

·         Connectivity: wifi access, data plans, the need for authentification (to enter a wifi network, to access online journal holdings, etc.)

·         Security: it is possible for people to cover QR codes with other codes on stickers, which may lead to malicious sites

Guiding principles for using QR codes:

·         Put promotional material outside of the library as well as in

·         Add information (links, etc.) for those who don’t have devices

·         If you like to a library site, link to a mobile version

·         Size matters (make sure that codes are not too big or too small to be useful)

·         Test before putting codes out

·         Watch for physical location and ease of scanning

·         Add value to information

·         Make it easy, not more difficult, for patrons

While people are becoming more familiar with QR codes, they do not seem to be using them on a regular basis yet (one study quoted showed that only 2 out of 10 college students successfully scanned a particular code); your take-up rate might not be very high. On the other hand, it does not take much staff time or expense to produce QR codes, so it could be worth experimenting to see if they prove useful to you.