CIL2010: Using Technology Creativity & Partnership for Success

Bridging the Digital Divide - or
How Quick Response Codes Can Give Your Readers a 6th Sense
Paul Coyne, VP of Innovation, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Quick Response (QR) Codes:
How you can use, why QR Codes, and real-word examples.
What are QR Codes = Quick Response Codes

How it works? With the phone and software:

• take a picture of the code with your phone
• phone will decode
• software will present information

Create your own QR Codes:

• find a mobile code generator
• choose a QR code generator
• select the content type you need
• enter your code

QR codes in Libraries

• Make it innovative & easy to use
• Huddersfield University in UK - added codes to signs in the university library, initiate reference calls to the librarian, link to catalog
• University of Bath - created a mashup with catalog and inserted QR codes for titls that include directions to the item with the book in the catalog.
• Brooklyn Public Library - all 60 branches have QR codes in promotional materials and flyers, codes are individual to library
• CIL 2010 - a directory of CIL 2010 bloggers is available on the bulletin board. Photograph the QR code and visit the blog (direct to URL)

QR Codes in Publishing (slide content)

• Can extend the life of print content for the mobile audience
• updated information
• reviews and ratings
• links to similar content
• more titles by an author

Emerald Publishing is using QR codes to provide information about articles and resources. Can engage the user and student with more resources since the content was printed."QR Codes bridge the gap between the physical and digital world."

Bright Ideas in Dark Times
Louise Alcorn, Reference Technology Librarian
West Des Moines Public Library

Challenges facing libraries include budgets, staff reduction, and public library usage has significantly increased due to the same recession constraints.

Challenges = Opportunities
"Libraries shine in tough economic times." Every challenge can be an oportunity for marketing available library resources. Some areas open to creative response (slide content):

• technology
• collection development
• programming
• partnerships

Note: Attended this session in the "overflow room"