Take the survey of library use of QR Codes and Receive a Free Copy of the Report

Wed Feb 5 15:31:35 EST 2014

 To me, would you put a QR Code scanning app on your phone, makes about as much sense as, would you put a kindle app, chrome app, map app, or even Skype app on your phone.  Although, I rarely use QR Codes but am glad I have a scanner when I want to scan a code.

QR Codes are not strictly for URLs.   You can make a VCard, sms, phone number,  or map QR Code also. You can also make QR Codes specifically for short URLs or long URLs depending on the density you choose for the code.  The lesser dense code is readable more easily by some poorly written apps.  I printed up a single sheet page we could put up that had printed on  it "Jobs At" and then the QR Code just below it and the URL below the QR Code which would be handy when the student is  just walking by the poster.  I sent the Dell rep a map QR Code, which is a GPS coordinate, in an email and replied that he was able to use it for driving instructions straight to my office, not just the building.  The Map QR Code could be useful if you have more than one library, like we have a Music Library not too far from our building and a Map QR Code could give the patron walking directions.

I've made a WEB app that easily produces all of these codes but it is on a site you have to authenticate, but I am willing to share the code and of course it is Python ;-), these were written some time prior to August 2012.

What I don't understand is when people put QR Codes on mobile sites, I don't know of an app that will scan QR Codes on the device you are using, maybe a few mirror might help (not mirror sites).

Oh yeah, and QR Codes are not just for phones, they work on tablets also. 

And Michael, sometimes using a QR Code is to make it easier for the user, but not just a QR Code without other information to identify it.

Thomas

PS: When I first tested code scanning apps for iPhone in 2012 I found that the quality of the apps varied greatly from one publisher to another and that was the major reason for making 2 URL codes, one less dense than the other.  The best app I found for Android is Barcode Scanner which will scan bar codes or QR Codes. In either case, you should only need to download the app once like any other app for the most part.

GPS coords to my office in the QR Code below, or attached (depending on your email client I guess). 

====================================================
Support Request                http://portal.support.appstate.edu                                      
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Thomas McMillan Grant Bennett           Appalachian State University
Operations & Systems Analyst            P O Box 32026
University Library                                Boone, North Carolina 28608
(828) 262 6587
Library Systems                              http://www.library.appstate.edu
====================================================

Confidentiality Notice:
This communication constitutes an electronic communication within the meaning of the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. Section 2510, and its disclosure is strictly limited to the recipient intended by the sender of this message.  If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of any of the information contained in or attached to this transmission is STRICTLY PROHIBITED.  Please contact this office immediately by return e-mail or at 828-262-6587, and destroy the original transmission and its attachment(s), if any, if you are not the intended recipient.

On Feb 5, 2014, at 12:01 PM, Julian Prentice wrote:

> You could also set up a simple experiment by providing a URL shortened URL and a QR code and track which one gets more clicks. Most URL shorteners have built in analytics (bit.ly, goo.gl for sure do) and just have the QR code map to an analytics URL with a campaign code.
> 
> 
> On Wed, Feb 5, 2014 at 8:55 AM, Cabus, Michael <CabusM at philau.edu> wrote:
> Hi
> 
>   I want to emphasize that I do think QR codes could be relevant, but you have to be thoughtful regarding their use…which in most cases I’ve seen, companies are not thoughtful.
> 
>  
> 
> It seems to me that QR codes work best when there is some kind of reward or coupon being offered…it is incentive to use them.  Users might be disappointed if the QR code takes them to your mobile web site…and the frequency with which this happens is part of the reason people are not excited about QR codes…they are not sure the effort will be worth it.  Now, if I am told, scan this QR code to get a list of our newest ebooks with direct access, yeah, I might be tempted..but I am quite capable of doing a Google search for your library name and getting to the web site on my own, if I need to.
> 
>  
> 
> This is because QR codes take extra effort for users of iPhones at least…you have to download a QR code reader app. 
> 
>  
> 
> Many think things like augmented reality are the “future”..but, in general, QR codes remind me of a couple of years ago (maybe still), where companies were convinced they need an app.  I know someone who is a designer that works with a lot of pharmaceutical companies, and he told me they all thought they needed an app for every drug they produced…in some cases (like diabetes medications), it made sense (reminders about dosages, when to take the medication, etc)…but allergy medicine, it didn’t…people simply do not need or want to download an app that tells them about side-effects…they want to hear this information once and to go on taking their medication.
> 
>  
> 
> And I think that is relevant to QR codes…sometimes people just want to know something once, sometimes it is just easy for them to look it up themselves when they need to know it.
> 
>  
> 
> I am not being negative about QR codes, just our tendency to implement technologies without an overall strategic plan.
> 
>  
> 
> Michael Cabus
> 
>  
> 
> Systems Librarian, Paul J. Gutman Library
> 
> Philadelphia University
> 
> Phone. 215.951.5365
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
>  
> 
> From: Web technologies in libraries [mailto:WEB4LIB at LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On Behalf Of Cary Gordon
> Sent: Wednesday, February 05, 2014 11:36 AM
> 
> 
> To: WEB4LIB at LISTSERV.ND.EDU
> Subject: Re: [WEB4LIB] Take the survey of library use of QR Codes and Receive a Free Copy of the Report
> 
>  
> 
> If your URL is 300 characters long, or, like me, easily mixed up, you might consider using a URL shortener, be it a service (bit.ly, etc.) or something in-house. This is aside from the QR code question.
> 
>  
> 
> Cary
> 
>  
> 
> On Feb 4, 2014, at 2:26 PM, Thomas Dowling <dowlintp at WFU.EDU> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> 
> "Can we just stop pretending that QR codes matter?"
> 
> What if your URL is 300 characters long or easily mixed up?  What if your data isn't a URL, but a calendar event, a map location, or credentials for your library's wifi network?  How many users have to find it useful before it matters?
> 
>  
> 
> On Tue, Feb 4, 2014 at 4:30 PM, Wilhelmina Randtke <randtke at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Can we just stop pretending that QR codes matter?  If you need to give someone a URL, type out the URL.  If you need to give someone on-the-spot instructions, make a poster, or put a note on a book blank.  It's so much more likely that people will read a sign.
> 
>  
> 
> -Wilhelmina Randtke
> 
>  
> 
> On Tue, Feb 4, 2014 at 1:11 PM, James Moses <primarydat at aol.com> wrote:
> 
> Primary Research Group Inc., (www.PrimaryResearch.com) publisher of research reports and surveys about libraries, is surveying library use of QR codes.  The international study is open to public, academic and special libraries of all nations. The study is only open to libraries that have already used QR codes, even if in a very minimal way. Survey participants receive a free copy of the final report generated from the survey data.  The institutional name of participants is listed but responses are aggregated or not attributed to particular respondents.  To take the survey follow the link below:
> 
> https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LibraryUseofQR-Codes
> 
> James Moses, Research Director
> Primary Research Group Inc.
> 2753 Broadway #156
> NY  NY   10025
> primarydat at gmail.com
> 
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> -- 
> Thomas Dowling
> Director of Technologies, Z. Smith Reynolds Library
> Wake Forest University
> dowlintp at wfu.edu / 336-758-5797
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