USE OF QR CODES IN LIBRARY AND INFORMATION
SCIENCE (LISC) PRACTICES
Presented by,
Mangesh S. Talmale
Librarian, Karve Institute of Social Service, Pune
elibmangesh@gmail.com
&
Avinash Humbare
Librarian, Baburaoji Gholap College,Pune
E-mail: avinash.humbare@gmail.com
INTRODUCTION
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Due to ICT & Mobile technological impact new concepts are coming in the LISc
profession and changing the practices adapted to face of Library Information
Centres ( LICs) to fulfilling the reader’s expectations.
In Mobile Environment,Mobile devices are changing the way information is
delivered and accessed. An increasing number of libraries provide services and
content delivery to mobile devices.
According to many surveys on current technology trends in library and
information science can be preferably considered for improving the status of
libraries in the context of users expectation.
With expanding digital resources, librarians must try to increase awareness of
these new services and collections while making sure old formats are not being left
behind.
Many emerging technologies can be used to deliver & market library services.
Trend of Mobile Tagging is one of the development on the mobile front.
Mobile Tagging is a process that allows users to access digital content in their
mobile device via an encoded object.
1D & 2D BARCODE
2D Barcode
Stored data in non-linear
fashion, such codes known
as two-dimensional code.
1D Barcode
A barcode is series
of bars and spaces
arranged according
to a set of rules
that determines
how data is to be
represented.
What is QR code
 The QR (Quick response) codes, a type of 2D barcode.
 Developed in Japan By Denso-wave corporation in1994
to track automotive parts.
 Primary aim of a symbol to easily interpreted by
scanner equipment.
 They are sometimes referred as 2D codes, 2D
barcodes, mobile codes & also known as a matrix
code .
 2D codes that do not need a specialized scanner to read
them.
 Scan with a smart phone or web cam.
 They are a convenient way to add the virtual to the
physical to provide useful content.
 Marketing/Advertisement Tool
 QR Codes can contains different information:
 Provide more text ,
 Link to Website,
 Transfer phone Number,
 Send it an SMS to phone
 Link to RSS feed
QR CODES FEATURE
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A QR Code is dynamic: if a
code that prompts a mobile
device to open a page on your
library website. if the URL
ever changes, you can revise
the underlying data without
having to alter the code’s
image.
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QR Codes are freely available
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QR is an ISO standards
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QR is well designed with a
higher capacity than other
matrix codes & with error
correction capabilities. Upto
30% of damaged or obscured
data can be restored.
QR is enriching: QR codes ties
the physical to digital.
Need of the study
It is essential to use and awareness of information sources, services and
information communication technology in every walk of life.
Consequently, following reasons, there is urgent need to carry out the present study
to cope for the futures.
To increase the amount of information stored by bar codes, such as increasing
the number of bar code digits or layout multiple bar codes. However, these
improvements also caused problems such as enlarging the bar code area,
complicating reading operations, and increasing printing cost.
 main purpose of library is to maximize use of its resources.
Mobile technology is rapidly evolving, becoming more popular, bridge the
connection between print and web with the scan codes and easier to use than
typing out URL’S on a smart phone.
Mobile site creation by academic institutions, easy social network access, and the
growing number of popular mobile apps, points to the likelihood that more students
will option for convenient and useful data available to them, via. Handheld devices
(Smart phones or cell phones).
Need of the study
 Many of our students are using handheld devices in their daily activities on
campus and have recently seen an uptick in requests for assistance connecting
iPhones to our wireless network.
Consequently, QR codes are a convenient way to add the virtual to the
physical to provide useful content, often at the time of need and it’s storage
capacity accommodates a variety of data beyond numbers including Text,
Hyperlink, Telephone number (Phone call), SMS/MMS message, Email (Send
message) etc.
Objectives:
To Study the QR Code application for LISc practices;
To motivate the LISc professionals for use of QR code applications;
To increase the QR code awareness and usages of library resources;
To promote the QR Code for marketing and popularization of LISc
services, events, products among users .
Review of Literature
• Pranch and Kanji in the titled an application on 3G mobile phone and two
dimension barcode in classroom communication support systeme valuation
(which will be conducted in December, 2006 and May, 2007) focused on
how users make use of the QR code in the current system, which contains
class attendance, class evaluation and student collaborative functions.
• Okazaki, et.al.(2012) found three studies in Japan indicated that QR codes
were largely used in print media for promoting loyalty programs,convenience,
savings.
• Walsh, Andrew(2011) explained the use of technologies including GPS, QR
codes and RFID tags to personalize the learning environments in academic
libraries and reported on the use of QR codes at the University of
Huddersfield, including information on how the QR codes have been received
by users.
QR Code Tools
Three things are required in order to successfully decode a QR code:
 Smartphone, Desktop (with a camera),
 QR code Scanning Software application, and
 Internet Connection (either through the phone’s data plan or over a sitegenerated wireless network).
QR Code Generator & Reader Software's
Generator(Phone)
 QR Stuff
 Kaywa
Generator (Desktop)
Reader (Phone)
 ScanLife
 BeeTagg
 ReadLaser
 AT&T Code Scanner
 Microsoft Tag
 i-Nigma
 Kaywa
Reader(Desktop)
 Quick Mark
 Quick Mark
 ZXing Decoder
 ZXing Decoder
How to generate QR Code and read(Decode)
using computer?
• Start internet connection
• Open the www.google.com and type the QR code generator and QR code decoder
and click on go button.
• We will find many softwares
• Free and easily operational QR Code software will be used. eg. ZXing QR code
generator and Zxing Decoder online for read
Computer Generate QR Code using ZXing
Computer Read (Decode) QR Code using Zxing decoder online
How to generate QR Code and Read
using Smart Phone?
1. Many of smartphones already have installed inbuilt QR code. Those Smart
phones are not installed QR Code. They can follow following procedure
2. Start internet connection.
3. Open the PlayStore (Google Play) link to www.google.com and type the QR
Code generator and QR code decoder and click on go button.
4. We will find many softwares free and easily operational QR Code software will
be used. eg. QR code generator(YKART,Excelsior Studios) and ScanLife,
NeoReader for read
Smartphone Read (Decode) QR Code
using ScanLife software
Smartphone Read the QR code by
Users
QR Codes Challenges:
•Poor implementation of QR Codes
•Need for education and promotion
•Privacy issues
•Overuse
•Not everyone owns internet enable device
•Lack of user awareness and education
•Everyone does not have a smart phone or device
•Some phones may be handicapped by their other features.
•Limited or low budgets, competing priorities, skills and perception,
overburdened library technologies and /or insufficient skills on site
•Lack of standards for mobile content(Hampton,et.al.,2011,Thomas,2012).
QR Codes Opportunities:
• QR Code technology provides opportunities to increase the boundaries of anytime
and anywhere learning for students to increase flexibility in time and location of study,
in terms of availability of information and resources, synchronous and asynchronous
communication and various types of interaction via. The World Wide Web.
• QR code offer the opportunity for the expansion of existing library based services
through the mobile technology.
• Emerging technologies offer opportunities for creative integration with library
services. Staff should be encouraged to explore, learn, and recommended how these
technologies might fit into the library’s suite of services.
• Administrators should determine and define the policies and standards by which
these technologies may be actively employed only by participating in the mobile/social
members of our libraries.
• Establishing standards to support such endeavors require librarians to think
strategically about how, when and where to apply resources for technological
innovations. Moreover, a well-documented policy ensures a collective understanding
of institutional goals and sets criteria for evaluation, improvement, and future
innovations (Thomas, 2010)
QR Codes Initiatives in International and National
Scenario:
• The QR code was first designed for the automotive industry. Now QR codes are
used everywhere starting from products to webpages, advertising, mobile money
transactions and goods inventories. Storing URLs, these can be found on magazine,
buses and business cards (Burkya,2012).
•QR code application are used in international university, college libraries and
museums eg. University of Bath Library, United Kingdom, University of Huddersfield
Library, Providence College Library,US, Museums and Cultural Institutions
Powerhouse Museum, Sydney Australia, Cleveland Art Museum, Cleveland Ohio
etc.
• A Google trends report on search patterns for QR codes puts India at the eighth
place in the world in India, Mid Day was one of the first publication in India to use
QR codes to link video play and an option to answer a quiz.
•Ford,used QR code to promote Ford Figo. Users were asked to download an
application that read QR code by sending a text message. They could then play a
video of the Figo on their mobile device.
QR Codes Initiatives in International and National
Scenario:
•.Customer Centria have used QR codes in promotional campaigns of Godrej’s
social networking site Gojiyo and Taj Hotel’s holiday packages (Sahay&
Mishra,2012).
•CyberMedia a specialty media company with magazines such as PCQuest,
DQIndia, Voice & Data etc., started implementing plenty of QR codes in the print
editions of PCQuest
•These QR codes would point to different places such as videos, web pages, data
capture and response form, a test site, advertisements, reader contests, discount
for subscriptions, events and key announcements. These QR codes were put to
use in the March 2011 edition(Lakhina,(2011).
•Presently many national and regional newspapers published the QR code to
promote the real estate, malls, jewelry shops etc.
•Government of India takes initiative to published QR code on Aadhar Card.
•Some University published QR code in magazines or newspapers for advertised
the Common Entrance Test(CET).
•Publishers also taken initiatives to published the QR codes on books, journals to
know the authors, contents, articles and link to the website .
Application of QR code Technology in LISc
Reference queries in the
format of Text
List of Important information
sources, Periodicals, New books
arrivals, Rarer books collection,
CD/DVD etc.
Circular, Notice, entrance
examination result, Library Timing,
collection, services , source and rules
etc.
SMS
Additional
Information
Website
Library Website,Audio Video tour
Web OPAC,BookReview,E-Book,EJournal,E-Database,
Wiki,Blog,Social Networking Site,
E-mail discussion forum ,Podcast,
Online entrance Information
Booklet and sources ,Online
information resources.ASK a
Librarian,FAQ etc.
Application of
QR code
Technology in
LISc
GeoInformation
Linking to
Geographical
Information
RSS
Contact
Information
Teacher,Researcher, students,
ResearchGuide,ResourcePerson,
Publisher, Librarian(ILLService)
etc..
Important Websites,
Wiki,Blog,Social Networking
Site, Information centre,
conference,Seminar,
Workshop,PeriodicalTOC,Ne
wspaper Contents alert,etc..
QR Code @ Book for Contents
QR Code @ Book for Author’s Profile
QR Code @ Journal Article for
Journal website link
QR CODE IN LIBRARIES FOR PROMOTE LIBRARY EVENTS /SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
Create digital “wayfinders” in the stacks
Source:http://goo.gl/bGz1y
Source:http://lib.byu.edu/sites/qrcodes/
In the Academic area,both the university of Bath & University of Huddersfield
in the United Kingdom added QR codes to records in their Library catalogs.
QR codes uses as a digital supplement to museum & special collections
exhibits may be found around the internet.
Providence college library was initiated used of
QR codes in 2009. They prepared QR LibGuide,
promotional materials for banned books
METRICS
 Bettagg’s Built in statistical tool has
been very helpful to use tracking
scans of the QR codes.
 Statistics are kept online for each
individual QR codes.
 Beetag provides the total number
of scans in both text & graphical
(month by month) form.
Role of LISc Professionals:
• LISc professionals efforts will attempt to attract new users, expand the usage of
current users, and highlight specific library products.
•They should design a QR code campaign a plan to reach all user community.
They should take initiatives to offer the value added library services to users by
using QR code viz. text messaging reference services and notifications, mobile
library websites, quick linkage to website, free e-resources website, PPT,
newsletter, forms and mobile friendly online catalogs led the way, research guides,
digital collections, Linking to proprietary databases, virtual public services to meet
immediate and emerging needs of mobile users (Thomas, 2010).
• For that they should require effective planning, clear policies, procedures, regular
training and communication.
Conclusion:
• In the present digital environment, use of internet through mobile phones, smart
phones, and tablet PCs have been increased tremendously among youths all over
the world.
•Third generation (3G) and fourth generation (4G) technology' of mobile are
coming in the market which provide very fast internet on mobile phones and smart
phones.
•QR Codes are used in every area or field. However, for this to succeed, we need
to take care to implement QR codes where they really make our users’ lives
easier.
•QR codes offer a wide variety of useful applications for libraries, and as more and
more users begin to use smart phones and other mobile devices, libraries need to
find ways to reach those users (Hampton,et.al.,2011).
•QR codes & their effective use in library services can enable the popularity the
libraries, bridging the digital divide. So, the future of QR codes for mobiles phones
is very bright & it is need of the hour. The library professionals have been playing
very vital role in providing the prompt information services to maximum users.
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