1. Using QR Barcodes in Library
Outreach
Contact Linda Rath

2. Using QR Barcodes in Library
Outreach
Linda Rath
linda.rath@baruch.cuny.edu
Graduate Services Librarian
Newman Library,
Baruch College

3. Why did I experiment with Quick
Response codes ….
• Outreach & Promotion
• Complement in-person/print efforts
with mobile technologies
• Provide on-demand learning
opportunities
• Students take pictures of everything
– even computer screens

4. Why you may want to use QR codes …
• Free
(you can pay for enhanced services)
• Easy to make and track
• Can share/re-use QR codes with
colleagues
• Provide help or enhance experience

5. Why you may not want to use QR
codes …
• People do not know how to use
them (need instructions)
• Do students scan them?
• Fleeting technology ???
• “Ugly”

6. Student/user perspective ….
Connect to Real Estate Research
Guide
(Mobile device &
QR reader apps)

7. QR codes can contain ….
URLs
(try to link to mobile friendly sites)

8. QR codes can contain ….
URLs to launch tutorials on
media sharing sites

9. QR codes can contain ….
Geo Location/Map

10. QR codes can contain ….
Contact entry
(vCard or Mecard)

11. QR codes can contain ….
Calendar Event

12. QR codes can contain ….
Message

13. QR codes can contain ….
SMS/text message

14. Which QR Generator? …..
• What information are you coding?
• Do you want to track the code?
• What are output options?

15. Which QR Generator? …..
http://qrmedia.us/qr-code-generators-list/

16. Create QR codes using free, online
QR generators, such as …
http://goo.gl

17. Create QR codes using free, online
QR generators
Screenshot from http://www.i-nigma.com/CreateBarcodes.html

18. Attach QR codes to pre-existing
print documents
Print QR code on label paper, and
attach to print materials

19. Print QR code on label paper, and
attach to print materials

20. Insert QR code image files on web
sites
(when students ask
for contact info at
service desks)

21. Insert directly into new documents

22. How else can they be used? …
• Link to e-resources when in
stacks/classrooms
• Link to supplemental materials/provide
context (maps, etc.)
• With other apps; Evernote & etc.
• Audio/video tours
• Launch surveys/forms; get feedback

23. Best practices
• Link to mobile friendly web sites
• Test scannability of codes
(diff phones, diff QR apps, from various
distances, various code sizes)
• Use URL shorteners to create simpler QR
codes (better for older phones)
• Include instructions near code; clue what
data is in the code

24. Best practices
• Track your codes (bit.ly or goo.gl)
• Save codes in a Word or Excel document
(annotate, organize, share)
• Link to enhanced content
(don’t disappoint users)
• Limit number of codes per document;
have plenty of space between codes if using
more than one

25. Which QR Reader App? …..

26. Mac app store

28. Which QR Reader App? …..
• Read user reviews
• Read trade journals/professional lit.
• Download and test QR apps
• Suggest QR app on your library web site
• May use a few QR apps
(depending on info in code –
SMS, contact, web site, etc.)

29. How will I continue …
• Collaborate with colleagues
• Develop process
(which free services to use for
generation & tracking of codes)
• Suggest policy for library use

30. How will I continue …
• Campaign strategies
• Experiment with other apps
• Use in ad/story in student newspaper

31. How will I continue …
• Create custom code

32. QR Resources/Further Reading …
• http://qrmedia.us or http://qrmediaguide.com/
contains news/reviews/articles, such as “QR generators with
tracking” http://qrmedia.us/qr-code-generators-with-tracking/
• Schottmuller, Angie. (2011, Dec. 30). Top 14 things marketers need to
know about QR codes. http://bit.ly/QRSearchEngineWatch
(good overview)
• “QR Codes in Education” http://socialme.wikispaces.com/QR
compiles infographics, statistics, videos, list of activities/uses for
codes, etc.

33. http://slidesha.re/UsingQRCodes
Using QR Codes in Library
Outreach on SlideShare