Tag Archives: qrcodetips

QR codes – best practice

This is the fourth post in a tips and tricks series about QR codes. The full series includes an introduction to QR codes, tracking QR codes, examples of how they are being used in libraries, and best practice tips.

So, having read each of the following blog post on QR codes, have you decided you’d like to use them in your library? You may want to consider the following points:

Purpose
Don’t use QR codes just because you think they’re cool. Is there a purpose for them? Something your library would like to do that QR codes can help with?  They’re more likely to be useful if they have a defined purpose.

Staff awareness
As with any new technologies, staff will need to be familiar with QR codes and understand their use. Before using QR codes in the library, ensure staff know what they are going to be used for and how to help users if they are unsure.

User awareness
Some users may be tech-savvy but QR codes are still only used by a small section of the population so they may well be unfamiliar with QR codes. It might be worth doing some research beforehand to see if they currently use QR codes or would be interested in doing so. Help and guidance should also be offered (through staff training, FAQs etc.).

Destination
This is a really important point. If you’re going to use QR codes you need to make sure the destination will work on a mobile device. It’s no good adding a QR code to an e-book if it will only work on a desktop computer, or linking to a webpage full of text and images that won’t display correctly on a mobile phone. Ideally, you’ll want to link to mobile optimised websites. YouTube videos can be made mobile-friendly so this is a good way of creating mobile-friendly videos.

Design
If you’re going to use QR codes you need them to be easy to read. Simpler codes are better (hence shortening URLs before creating the code so they’re not so complex), but you will also want to make sure the size of the QR code is appropriate. This will depend on the context – will people be scanning from right next to it (e.g. on bookshelf) or from far away (e.g. on billboard)? You might need to test it out before printing a final version. If you want something a bit different and are feeling adventurous you could try adapting the design of the QR code (more examples here).

Measuring success
Remember to have everything in place to evaluate the QR codes. The earlier post in the series on tracking QR code usage offers three different options to achieve this. Keep an eye on the statistics, and consider the reasons for low or high usage. Do they perform better in a particular place in the library? Use this information, along with user feedback to shape future developments (and don’t be afraid to scrap them if they’re not working).

Please feel free to add any extra tips or advice in the comment section if you have been using QR codes and have anything to share.

How are libraries using QR codes?

This is the third post in a tips and tricks series about QR codes. The full series includes an introduction to QR codes, tracking QR codes, examples of how they are being used in libraries, and best practice tips.

So how are libraries using QR codes? Some of the more popular uses are listed in this post with links to examples. You may have some ideas of your own already, so please don’t be restricted to the ideas in this post.

Item records in OPAC

Adding QR codes to OPACs can help users get the information about resources onto their phone easily without having to take notes. Cutting scraps of paper to replenish supplies by OPACs used to take up so much of my time on an enquiry desk so this is a very welcome development for both staff and users! University of Bath were one of the pioneering institutions using QR codes in their library catalogue (see example):

By reading the code, you can save the Title, Author and Classmark of the book you are viewing on the catalogue to help you find it on the shelves

http://www.bath.ac.uk/library/services/qrcode.html

Senate House Library also has QR codes in their catalogue and you can read a full case study of QR codes at Senate House Library including what led them to implement it, how they did it, how it has been received, and future developments.

Linking to electronic resources from within the library

Another common use is to help promote electronic resources from with the library, ideally at the point of need. Often library resources are available in both print and electronic format and a QR code can be used to link to the electronic equivalent from with the shelves. University of Bedfordshire use posters to highlight ebook versions of texts in high demand (particularly useful if all print books are out on loan):

Ebook QR code poster

Ebook QR code poster

You could also use QR codes to link to relevant web resources for particular areas within the library, for example linking to subject guides, relevant websites or online reports near the books for that topic.

Guidance on how to use equipment or services

There’s a whole host of equipment to use in a library, much of which might need some explaining – particularly printers, copiers, laminators and binding machines. Of course signage can help, but a QR code can be used to link to a step-by-step guide online, or a video of the equipment being used.

They can also be used to direct people to get help – either by providing them with help contacts, opening an SMS message to the library contact number, or a webpage with facility to ask for help (i.e. virtual reference).

Additional information or calls to action on posters and handouts

We all know libraries love our posters, but sometimes they can get a little text heavy. A QR code could be used to link to additional information leaving the poster free for just the essential information. They can also be used to direct people to a certain website, often used for survey or to gather feedback.

They can be used in the same way on handouts, linking either to an online version of the guide (so that this can be bookmarked for future reference), additional information, or contact details of staff members.

QR codes on handouts at University of Huddersfield

QR codes on handouts at University of Huddersfield

Additional information about library space and booking study rooms

QR codes can be used to explain different areas of the library, particularly special collections or  unique areas of the library. The photograph below was taken at Staffordshire University outside a room which had recently been invested in and had lots of innovative technologies. The QR code directs you to a webpage with further information about the equipment in the room and its use (apologies for the poor quality but you get the idea!)

Explanatory QR codes at Staffordshire University

Explanatory QR codes at Staffordshire University

Some libraries are using also QR codes on the signs on study rooms to enable people to book them directly from their mobile devices.

Treasure/scavenger hunts

QR codes can be used to great effect to introduce users to the library by setting up treasure/scavenger hunts (for more information on this see our pathway to best practice guide 1). LSE Library have used these during induction period for new students.

LSE Library QR code treasure hunt

LSE Library QR code treasure hunt

What next?

Raring to go? You might want to hold fire for a moment, as there are some further considerations for using QR codes. The next post in the series tackles these and recommends best practice for implementing QR codes.

Tracking QR code usage

This is the second post in a tips and tricks series about QR codes. The full series includes an introduction to QR codes, tracking QR codes, examples of how they are being used in libraries, and best practice tips.

A number of libraries have started using QR codes around their library as a trial to see if they are useful. Anecdotal evidence may help evaluate these, but one method of evaluating how often they have been used is to ensure you use a QR code with trackable statistics.

How can I create a QR code with these statistics?

There are a number of different methods for creating QR codes with trackable statistics, and your choice will be dictated by a number of different factors such as existing systems, administrator access, and convenience.

Method 1: Google Analytics

You may well already use Google Analytics to track statistics of visitors to websites or the success of campaigns, in which case it makes sense to use Google Analytics to track QR code statistics. You can create a custom campaign URL (see custom campaign guide) so that you know people have used the QR code. This can be particularly useful if creating a campaign that you are promoting in a number of different ways – by using different custom URLs you can track how people are accessing the information and measure the success of different techniques.

Once you have created your custom URL it’s a good idea to shorten it (using any URL shortening service such as bit.ly or goo.gl) before creating the QR code – this will make the QR code much simpler and therefore easier to scan.

Then you can use any QR code creator to get your QR code.

For more information on this, check out this guide from Andrew Preater at Senate House Libraries (which also explains how to add QR codes with trackable statistics to an OPAC).

Method 2: Trackable URL services

Many URL shortening services provide tracking information so you know who has used the shortened URL, when, and where from. If you don’t have Google Analytics you might want to use these to create a trackable URL before creating your QR code. This has the additional bonus as discussed earlier that the resulting QR code won’t be as complex as it is a shorter text string.

It’s even easier with bit.ly which actually has a QR code automatically created for each shortened URL as standard. To find your QR code just go to the tracking page (through your account page or by adding a + to the end of the bit.ly URL), and you’ll find a small QR code icon (see image below).

QR codes on bit.ly

QR codes on bit.ly

Clicking on the icon opens up a larger QR code in a new page that you can then download and use as you wish.

If you’re using the bit.ly URL in different places (i.e. online as well as QR code), you’ll be able to see from the statistics page in the referrer section how many have accessed the link via the QR code compared to other sources.

There’s a little more detail in this How To Create a QR Code and Track with Bit.ly blog post.

Something to bear in mind with this option is that you might want to consider customising your link so that it’s something meaningful – having the text libraryfaq in the URL is much better than a random string of text and numbers, especially when users will have to consider whether they actually want to open the URL. In bit.ly you do this by clicking on the pencil icon to edit the URL and then typing custom text and saving (see image below).

Customising bit.ly URL

Customising bit.ly URL

Method 3: QR code creator with tracking

If you’d rather stick with one service and let that take care of the tracking for you, you may wish to use a QR code creator that has tracking capabilities built in (this is probably the simplest route). There is often a charge for this service, though many offer pay as you go packages so you only pay for the number of QR codes you produce. Some examples of services include:

So now we know what QR codes are and how to create ones with tracking capabilities, but so what? What can we use these for in the library? The next post in the series will demonstrate some of the uses for QR codes in libraries.

Introduction to QR codes

This is the first post in a tips and tricks series about QR codes. The full series includes an introduction to QR codes, tracking QR codes, examples of how they are being used in libraries, and best practice tips.

You’ve probably started seeing these strange black and white pixelated boxes appear all over the place – and if you haven’t yet you’ll probably start noticing them soon! I’ve seen them on building sites, museums and galleries, on promotional stands, on products, on leaflets and guides, on TV adverts… everywhere!

What is a QR code?

QR stands for Quick Response and a QR code is a similar concept to a barcode. Scanning a QR code (usually by camera phone) can result in a number of different types of actions, including

  • Opening a URL
  • Displaying text
  • Populating an SMS message (with number to send to and message details/start)
  • Prompting a phone call
  • Displaying someone’s contact details by vCard

Often before scanning a QR code you may not know what it is going to do, so most QR code scanners will let you know and ask if you want to. So for example, if you scan a QR code and it’s going to take you to a web page, it will popup with a message letting you know what the code wants to do and asking if you want to continue.

I have a camera phone, how can I scan QR codes?

You’ll need to download a QR code reader application. Some examples for smartphones include RedLaser (iPhone), ZBar (iPhone), QR Reader (iPhone), i-nigma (iPhone), QRky (Android), QR Droid (Android) and Barcode Scanner (Android), QRafter (iPad), and Norton Snap (iOS or Android). This list is by no means exhaustive – try searching your app store for QR code to look at the different options (some free, some paid). If you have a regular camera phone rather than a smartphone you can often still get a QR code reader; try searching Google for your phone model number and the term QR code reader.

Once you have the reader installed, just look out for QR codes (check out posters and billboards as well as magazine and newspaper advertisements) then launch your reader application and hold your camera up to the QR code. Try this one as a test if you like (it should display text).

QRCode

I have a cool idea for a QR code, how do I create one myself?

There are lots of QR code creators online, and we’ll explore some of the options in more depth in our upcoming blog post on tracking QR codes (if you’re planning to use them in your library, you will probably find it useful to be able to track usage to measure its success). If you just want to have a quick go now, Kaywa is a really simple creator which allows you to have a go at creating your own for lots of different purposes.

What else do I need to know?

That’s about it in terms of the basics, but we’ll be posting more on this topic including a post on how to create QR codes with tracking capabilities, a post on how QR codes are currently being used in libraries, and a list of considerations for best practice.