Meet QR Codes

As a librarian at the start of my career, I love being able to combine traditional library tasks such as handling books with research on implementing new technology in my work environment. I work at a major university library, and I'm currently serving on a working group to assess the use of QR codes in our stacks.

QR codes are two-dimensional bar codes that were created in 1994. While bar codes had existed since the late 1940s, these were intended to be decoded quickly, hence the QR, which stands for "Quick Response". The main difference from regular bar codes is that QR codes contain information in one extra dimension: vertically and horizontally. I find this a fascinating corollary to the historical practice of cross-writing, where one page of paper would be written upon, then turned 90 degrees and written over again. The result is surprisingly legible, and such hatch-writing has been popular for centuries. Here is a beautiful example from The Papers of Philander Chase Project at Kenyon College:

In cross-writing, information can be decoded from data physically encoded at 90 degrees to each other, and this principle has now been applied to bar codes. Neat!

QR codes are currently used to store addresses and URLs. When someone takes a picture of the code with their camera phone, the phone's browser launches and redirects to the encoded URL. That is, if their phone can read QR codes. QR codes can be read by most Japanese phones as purchased, but in the United States, nearly none can read them. However, I've found this helpful list of software to download to your phone.

Curious as to how QR codes are used? In Japan, QR codes can be found on pieces of fruit, linking to a description of how the produce was grown, to advertisements, to vending machines. You can even find them on coffee cups. Point, click, and read.

Okay, but how do QR codes fit into libraries? Imagine a graduate student walking into my library, swiping their ID, and entering the stacks. After heading to the other side of the building, five floors in, they select their books and notice another interesting title on the shelf. They hold it in front of them, QR code displayed, and snap a picture. Immediately, a link with relevant information is launched. Perhaps it's to the catalog record for that book. Or maybe it's to an in-house research guide which includes that text. It could even be to an outside page relevant to that particular book.

There are two benefits to using a QR code in this situation.

1. You don't have to stop and write down a call number, title, and author. How long can it take to stop and write down a title? you may ask. If you are asking this, I'm a bit envious of you. Because multiply that act by several dozens and it becomes tedious, and leaves the researcher more likely to misplace important information with each additional title hastily scribbled down.
2. You don't have to look it up again. You have the QR code saved! You did remember to save the image, right? One click and you have access to contextual information prepared by trained librarians. And I thought EndNote was groundbreaking...

We're currently trying to figure out whether reception within the stacks will be there, and if it's too early to promote QR codes as a library service in the United States, when many people will have to have the concept explained to them, and may need to download a reader as well. In the meantime, though, if you want to get your hands dirty, there are many QR code generating sites online!

In other words, check out Lex Rigby's post on the subject from last month. Try out some generators. Or, if you're interested in mobile technology, take a look at David Harper's post from a whopping three years ago!

Any thoughts on how you might use QR codes in your professional life?

Meet Last.fm

I've always been interested in music. In high school I taped songs off the radio for my mixes. When I got to college, countless friends turned me on to new genres of music and filled in the gaps of my musical education. Nowadays, as a twenty-something librarian, I track my listening via Last.fm, a free and comprehensive music service.

One of my favorite features of Last.fm is the different radio stations it generates. Subscribers get certain perks, but anyone who creates an account can listen to a stream of music they've previously played (My Library), or listen to music people with similar tastes like (Neighbourhood). My favorite, however, is the Recommendations station. Based on the music you've been listening to recently, the radio service streams all sorts of artists deemed similar. I still love chatting with my friends about what albums they've picked up lately or if there's something new they think I'd dig, but the Recommendations radio has introduced me to so much music I would have never encountered—and I've passed on new favorites to my old friends.

Here's three tracks I just enjoyed this evening.

Tyvek - Needles Drop

Lo-fi may sound simple, but it ain't easy. A band like Tyvek, though, makes you wonder why so many bands can't get it right. Take guitar. Add drum. Add singer. Listening to these songs is as easy and instantly fulfilling as PB&J.

Deastro - Parallelogram

Usually I'm not a fan of power pop. There's something too fatuous about the guitar lines and the straightforward lyrics. But when it's done right, I dig why so many people tune in. It's fun.

The crossing vocal lines and drumming in this one save it for me. Lose the headphones for this one. When you're at a music festival and your bottle of water's gone warm, you can use a little fun without the complexity.

Tycho - The Disconnect

This track takes the warm synth sounds from Boards of Canada and makes 6:10 you can listen to two or three times in a row. If you like to take drugs and put on some music, this one's for you. If you like to put on some music instead of taking drugs, come take a seat. With this lush soundscape, there's plenty of room to explore.