Scan for e-version
Quick Response Codes:
Finding ebooks in the Stacks
Geoff Brown, Dalhousie University Libraries, Halifax, N.S.
Our QR Code Project
QR Primer
QR (Quick Response) codes are 2 dimensional
codes intended to transmit data quickly and
efficiently. Unlike traditional 1 dimensional
barcodes that can only hold 20 numerical digits,
QR codes can hold over 4000 alphanumeric
characters. This makes them ideal for
transmitting a large set of metadata in a small
transmission package.
The codes were originally developed by Toyota
in 1994 to help them track vehicle parts. Since
their initial development in Japan, QR codes
have seen much more widespread use in the
Middle East and Europe. They have only
recently caught on in North America with the
masssive growth in smart phones and other
mobile communications devices.
Locally, these codes have been cropping up
everywhere from product advertising to historic
landmarks to real estate signs. These pixelated
square barcodes have all kinds of uses. In the
academic marketplace, they are starting to be
used by those in communications and
marketing to link print advertising to detailed
online content.
Why are we doing this?
To move this initiative into production on a very quick timeline we chose the Google URL shortener service. Google is a
stable entity that provides simple click analytics and a QR code as a freely available service.
Step 1: We take an e-book URL and enter it into the Google
URL Shortener goo.gl
Step 2: The short URL (highlighted in blue below) is saved in
a spreadsheet along with some identifying information about
the bibliographic item that is being linked to. In our case, we
choose the system number from our library management
system.
Step 3: With our spreadsheet of short URLs, we add a “+”
e.g. http://goo.gl/coOIE+ to view click analytics for the
item. The analytics show us how many times the URL has
been accessed, the country of origin, the browser being
used and the platform of the device.
Step 4: End processing staff add the codes as
labels to books. We print the labels in sheets of
24. Each code is accompanied by the text “Scan
for e-version”
What books are we Targeting?
Use in Libraries
Devices such as the iPad 2 and Android could
bring QR codes to your local library. These
devices combine mobile communications, a
multitude of e-readers and a camera all in one
package.
This code on a whiteboard in
the lobby of the Killam
Library at Dalhousie
University takes users to our
LibVine blog where we
describe the places that
users might expect to find
QR codes in the library.
•On the Study Room doors at
the Killam and Kellogg libraries.
•At the Killam and Sexton library
reference desks.
•On the floorplans board across
from the Killam reference desk.
•On the Killam “learning
commons at a glance” signs.
•On the covers of select books
in the Killam.
Step 5: Read “The 1972 Munich olympics” on your
mobile device.
http://goo.gl/MBiOA
• In some cases we order both print
and electronic copies of the same
book in our online order system
(YBP Gobi). When the print book
arrives in the library, our order staff
flag it for the end processing staff to
add a QR code. This workflow
catches all new items that require a
QR code prior to them reaching the
stacks.
• For books that are already in the
stacks. We ran searches in our
catalogue to identify those items
with both print and electronic
holdings.
Sample searches in our Aleph catalogue
w-sublibrary = DLKIL AND
w-sublibrary = DLNET AND
w-format = BK AND
words = myilibrary
words = springer OR springerlink
words = oxford
words = Canadian electronic library
words = netlibrary
words = acls
Initial search to identify all
books with both a print and
electronic location in our
catalogue
Refining search to
pull out specific
ebook collections.
• Library collections are currently a hybrid of
print and electronic resources. We wanted
to create a bridge between the offline and
online.
• Information discovery is not limited to online
search tools. Physical browsing in the
library is a valid means of discovery but up
to this point users could only discover print
items by browsing the stacks. Now they can
discover online resources as well.
• Users discover resources outside of the
library. Collaboration is a significant part of
the curriculum in most academic programs.
Group work brings students with common
research interests into contact with each
other. Books with QR codes can make
students aware of additional copies of the
same text when they are in work groups.
• The nature of library collections makes
duplication of content inevitable. The QR
code allows us to physically collocate print
and electronic items in a manner not
possible before.
Limitations
The durability of URLs is a concern with a
project such as this.
• Freely available resources were not
included. We have no way of
determining when URLs for free items
change.
• Government Documents were also not
included. Government agencies have
not always been great about providing
URL redirects in the past.
• Placing trust in a third party such as
Google with whom we have no
business relationship is difficult.
Ultimately, we are looking into creating
our own in-house URL shortener to
handle URL redirects so we can expand
the scope of e-books that we include.