Look, it's another QR code post

I often 'forget' that QR codes don't have to lead users to web pages; options exist for text messages, general text, and an assortment of other resources. The IRC has provided QR code signage to users for a few years now (see here and here and here); it's been a generally successful tool to send LibGuide, IRC Blog, and IRC and library web site content to mobile devices and tablets. A new academic year seemed like the perfect time to expand use of QR code signage to a few more floors in the library. Well, that and a request from another librarian regarding development of signage to highlight our recent library catalog interface (web pac pro) update. The result? We now have a series of signs for each library floor featuring QR codes.

The new signage moves beyond directing users to web resources. Each has a set of three QR codes (all traditional black & white) featuring the library catalog, information about collections located on each floor and our new text a librarian service. To help students understand - and use - the signs, accompanying each QR code is an image depicting the type of result to expect after scanning. The top QR code leads to the library catalog and features a mobile device screen shot of the catalog; the second QR code returns brief text detailing the collections located on a particular floor and is accompanied by a cell phone image with instructions; the third QR code supports our new text a library service by automatically opening a text message on the users phone.

Signs were printed in color, laminated (because I can), and posted on the stacks end caps for viewing as users exit the elevator on each floor of the library. I used the QR Code and 2D Code Generator (Kerem Erkan) for this project as the Kaywa QR Code Generator was requiring account creation prior to use.  Overall, I'm pleased with the results (as is the librarian who requested them) and will be curious if they generate any increased usage of our texting service.

Weekly Reader

On Creating Joy at Work
"When was the last time you were overjoyed by an inspired act or outcome at work? For too many managers, the very thought of joy at work is laughable. For employees? It’s not only laughable, but a notion left for dreamers — certainly no place for it in the cubicle nation." -- Shawn Murphy, Smart Blog on Leadership, 7/5-12

Where Wal-Mart Departs, A Library Succeeds
"A vast building in McAllen, Texas, was once home to a Wal-Mart -- but no longer. When the discount superstore moved to a larger location, it left behind a vast empty building. The community took advantage of the space and converted the warehouse-like building into a public library." -- Carolyn Kellogg, Jacket Copy, 7/3/12

Copyright for Librarians and Teachers in a Nutshell
"You may have wondered whether you hold the copyright to work you’ve put many hours into creating on the job. Who holds the copyright to works created by teachers or librarians? Short answer: In general, when employees create works as a condition of employment, the copyright holder is the employer." -- Carrie Russell, American Libraries Magazine, 7/2/12

QR Codes, Don't Believe the Hype
"Growing up it was Pokemon cards, in my early teens it was the constant use of MySpace and now, the latest trend to be hyped into oblivion, is QR codes. QR codes or quick response codes are the square barcodes that can be read by QR code scanners and smart phone cameras. They have been plastered on everything from billboards and magazines to business cards and t-shirts." -- Matt Thomas, Social Media Today, 7/5/12

Pinterest Provides Attribution for Pinned Sites
"Did you recently view an online Pinterest that really caught your attention? Well now, you don’t have to hunt through the web to find out more information about the product. Pinterest is now giving users access to online information about their product, by adding permanent links on pins from sites like Flickr, YouTube, Behance, and Vimeo. And in doing so, they are giving credit to companies that were blindsided by their products being mass-promoted on its site." -- Jessica Passman,  Daily Deal Media, 7/2/12

QR Codes in action (with Mock Caldecott session)

Since 2002, I have had the pleasure of working with a College of Education professor and her children's literature class facilitating a Mock Caldecott session at the beginning of each fall and spring term. Prior to the panel discussion, students  have spent several class periods studying picture books, elements of genre and illustrator's artistic style; evaluating the titles presented during our meeting provides opportunity to put these tools (so to speak) to use.

I select titles that are new to the library, meet basic Caldecott terms and criteria (picture book, year published, and illustrator citizen or resident of United States), and generate a collection with a variety of artistic styles and representation of new and well-known illustrators. This year's resource packet featured a list of titles explored, Caldecott terms and criteria and About the Caldecott Medal, and Caldecott Confidential, a great article from the School Library Journal web site, and the Caldecott section from my Children's Literature Award Book Resource LibGuide. The panel designated Grandpa Green, by Lane Smith, as their winner (you can read more about the Mock Caldecott session here).

Time to tour the IRC before to the panel and peruse collections after completion is scheduled into the visit. The biggest draw after class is routinely our new book area, this year it was split with the QR code literature rack. Several students were intrigued by the different colored codes, armed with cell phones, bar code reader apps, and instruction, they happily checked out several of the resources - including the QR code on their LibGuide

Summertime in the IRC

This post is a loose adaptation of borrowed idea; one of the blogs on my feed reader has begun sharing a picture or image “of the week.” While unsure if this will be a weekly occurrence, I’m pleased to present today's photo, my updated literature rack with freshly developed LibGuide QR codes - in color!

The first literature rack slot introduces QR codes and suggests three popular (and free) smart phone barcode apps RedLaser, Kaywa, and ScanLife. Subsequent signs invite users to "Take us with you!" and present simple instructions for QR code use. LibGuide titles are detailed and QR code color matches or compliments the header. Color adds visual appeal to the rack, located on the wall next to the second floor printer station.

Literature rack text deliberately echoes QR code slides developed for the library’s digital sign on the main floor. Color and presentation are great, but the purpose remains providing quick and easy access to online information for our users.

QR Codes in color?

A Mashable post about QR codes caught my attention this afternoon, "How to Make Your QR Codes More Beautiful."

"A thing of beauty or an eyesore? The magical barcodes that can be scanned by a smartphone to launch an offline-to-online experience are often criticized for their black and white checkerbox appearance. " -- Hamilton Chan

I have to admit, changing the color of a QR code was not something I considered. Adjusting the QR code size? Sure. Making everything around the QR code more visually appealing? Definitely.But actually changing the color or display, even branding it to match a LibGuide or presentation? The sanctity of the black and white code seemed generally untouchable. But now, the possibilities are interesting.



These are four renditions of a QR code generated for the LibGuide supporting our ACRL Cyber Zed Shed presentation, To the Cloud. The upper left code is a traditional black & white rendition. I copied the QR code image into Word to adjust color and display. First, I changed black to blue and left the white area intact. I also worked with color and picture style using "simple frame, white" and "bevel perspective." Results were certainly more visually appealing, but I was curious to learn if the code remained functional. So, I pulled out my phone and tested each with the bar code app.

The original QR code worked flawlessly, as did the first color change. It took more time for my reader to focus and scan the framed orange code, even longer for the beveled green code. In the end, all four codes directed my phone to the correct URL and successfully display the LibGuide. I like the visual appeal of the last two codes, but found having to adjust it in the app scan area took more time than may be warranted. Form or function? It will be interesting to see how QR codes may evolve.

Update: ALAO Conference 11/4/11

QR Codes were part of an ALAO conference presentation, Web Tools: The More Things Change. A QR Code and 2D Generator was featured, this site offers users opportunit to develop a QR code specifying a foreground and background color. Enter the hex code for a specific color or use the color picker provided.

another QR Code post

We have a new digital signage system on the library main floor that allows us to create informational slides highlighting library services and events. Mounted on the wall near the library exit, it is viewable from most of the main floor, most importantly the circulation and reserves desk. I've posted images of the library (on a sunny, blue sky day), a simple floor directory, the weather (it's a changing feed), and a few slides for other offices located in the library. In an effort to generate some interest, I went to the Kaywa QR Code Generator, entered the library web site URL, and created as sign for the rotation.

Now we need someone with a web-enabled phone and bar code app to try out the QR code!

More about QR Codes

The October issue of School Library Journal has two short articles about QR Codes and libraries.

• QR Codes in the Library: Use 2-D Barcodes to Offer the Coolest Service Ever
  "Libraries can use QR codes to deliver a higher level of support and interactivity to patrons. Even better, the technology’s a snap to implement at little or no cost." -- SLJ, Christopher Harris, 10/1/2010


• QR Codes Connect Students to Books
  "QR codes captured Schumacher's attention because of what students could create and link to in a school library setting. One library he found on YouTube, he says, created QR codes for students and showed how they could link to reviews, videos and even podcasts about the books." -- SLJ, Lauren Barack, 9/14/10

I've not had much feedback on my QR code literature rack, but have hopes it is catching students attention as they retrieve print-outs, staple, punch holes, and make copies at the print station.

(QR Code pictured, Library Cloud)

More QR Codes ...

More discussion regarding QR codes and libraries! This link to Guided by Barcodes, an American Libraries Magazine article by Meridith Farkas, provides a nice overview of QR codes and a few more workable ideas on how they may be incorporated into library instruction, accompanying handouts, and web pages.

Even more fun, the power of Facebook ... I was led to the ALA article from OhioLINK's Facebook page re-posted by a "Facebook Friends" (thanks, Susan).

Literature rack & QR codes

I have been considering different ways to utilize QR codes in the IRC since returning from the Computers in Libraries conference this spring. I think they have potential to be an interesting creative outlet (instruction session scavenger hunt and student interaction, saving LibGuides to phones and simple signage tools) and they are a quirky fun technology. I wanted a way to make them feasible, functional, and visually appealing.

I created new signs for the Newbery and Caldecott sections of the juvenile collection; they lead-off the stacks. Signs are complemented by small literature holders with print copies of LibGuide pages, a more traditional handout format. New signs were created with screen shots of the LibGuide and a side bar with a QR Code displayed and text: "Snap! Send the QR Code to your Web Enabled Phone for the URL." My student workers thought it was fun after I explained, but there was not much interest in the signs (library wallpaper).

After contemplating the empty literature rack, I tossed all of the handouts at the end of the spring term,  trying to decide if it needed to be removed and what could be displayed in its place, I remembered the QR codes. Instead of updated handouts I generated QR codes for seven of my most popular education LibGuides and the IRC blog. After laminating, they fit cleanly into the rack with a small bit of tape securing them. The ninth opening has a definition of QR Codes and a small recycling statement.  I have not wasted paper on multiple copies, students can save URLs to their phones and print if they want a particular LibGuide and the rack has helped green the IRC. It remains to be seen if the rack/display garners interest or increased LibGuide use, but I am pleased with the result.

Worth another look

It's Friday and while "patiently" waiting for the Internet to catch up with my goals today (YouTube is taking forever to load an instructional video), I decided it was time for another edition of ... posts from my Bloglines account:

• Is there such a thing as social media elitism?
  "We’re developing a tunnel vision as social media is becoming the most important pillar of the online world." - Jay Dolan, Social Media Today
  
  
• Google Kills Background Images on Home Page
  "Fourteen hours into a 24-hour experiment with background imagery, Google's home page is once again stark white." --Tom Krazit, Cnet News
  
  
• Internet Procrastination at it's absolute finest. This is you, really YOU
  A cartoon originally from comics.com on The Next Web Sharables.
  
  
• Blogger Template Designer Now Available to Everyone
  "we’re excited to announce that the Blogger Template Designer is now available to everyone." -- Blogger Buzz
  
  
• City of New York Blankets Times Square with Giant QR Codes
  "To celebrate Internet Week 2010, the City of New York outfitted Times Square with giant QR codes earlier today. It’s called “The City at Your Fingerprints” and eleven New York agencies participated in the interactive billboard initiative." -- Jennifer Van Grove, Mashable.com
  
  
• PewResearch Report: The Future of Cloud Computing
  "Technology experts and stakeholders say they expect they will ‘live mostly in the cloud’ in 2020 and not on the desktop, working mostly through cyberspace-based applications accessed through networked devices." -- Future of the Internet
  
  
• This last entry features a Plagiarism Video (subtitles in English) from the University of Bergen's YouTube Channel. I found it via iLibrarian who in turn found it via Librarians Matter.