QR Codes

I have heard that creating QR codes is incredibly easy; it says so right in all of the library literature... so that must be true.

I was curious though... could it really be that easy???

It turns out that the library literature was indeed correct, it is incredibly easy to create a QR code.  All you need is an account for one of the many QR code generators and a URL or some piece of information that you want to create the code for.

I used http://www.beetagg.com/en/ as several of the articles that I had read about QR codes, mentioned this particular application.  On the home page, it will allow you to create one dynamic code for free.  I tried to be sneaky and use another email address to create another code, but it was wise to my antics and recognized my computer's IP address!  You can create as many static QR codes as you would like for free, while each dynamic code costs around $5 USD [which really isn't that bad].  I was a bit confused at the beginning about what was free and what I would have to pay for.  I also didn't understand the difference between a static link and a dynamic link, so to prevent further confusion, here is the direct link for the static codes: http://www.beetagg.com/en/generator/#StaticLink and these are the ones that are free!

So it is that simple, enter a URL and it immediately creates your code.  You can link to a PDF copy of the code and save it to your computer.  It appears that if you want to save the code in Bee Tagg, you have to pay for that. 

Next step, I added the bee tagg app on my iPhone to test my codes.  It was alarmingly simple.  My phone had taken the picture and found the link before I even realized what was happening.  What fun!

Ideas Sparked and Inspiration Inspired

I attended the webinar on Embedded Librarianship given by the ALA Publishing Webinar group earlier this week. I took it as an opportunity to learn about the topic as well as best practices for delivering instruction via the online format.

Two things that I liked immediately that the presenter did: she provided an over arching goal for the session in addition to the learning targets (not objectives - clever), and gave a poll after her brief introduction. It is incredibly hard to have the audience participate in a webinar, so I thought the instructor did a nice job of offering active learning techniques several times throughout her presentation.

It is her belief that learning communities are formed around content, standards (in the case of education), or interests and/or desires. This is an interesting statement, one that has the power to inspire collaboration between individuals.

Her suggestions for embedded librarianship involved examples from inspirational leaders in all sorts of libraries:

• Encourage networking via social media sites in order to establish learning partnerships


• Connect with experts in the field via Skype


• Encourage librarians in educational settings to contribute to classroom activities via Twitter


• Use Facebook to set up a special interest groups to foster discussion


• The use of QR Codes to provide directional assistance within the library stacks

She also talked about several tools such as, Ning, Google hang out, Netvibes and Scoop It! I left the session inspired to check out all of these tools!

Terrified of technology - notes from a conference presentation

The final session that I attended at WILU was entitled "Mobile Technology and Learning: Information Literacy Beyond the Classroom", presented by Robin Canuel and Chad Crichton.

The presentation began with a thought provoking discussion on determining the needs of the end users which is something that we are very concerned with in libraries. Their argument - does Steve Jobs ask us what we want or does he tell us what we need?

They then briefly demonstrated types of technology that could be incorporated into the library such as Google Goggles, GPS and QR codes.

The next portion of their presentation focused on the challenges of utilizing technology which they identified as:
- expertise
- cost
- competing priorities
- perception of librarians as perhaps technology illiterate
- licensed vs. owned content (DRM)
- speed
- coverage

The opportunities:
- engage students with the use of compelling technology
- harness the librarian's expertise (I am not sure in which context I wrote this comment down - but I like it - so I am leaving it!)
- the ability to re-emphasis traditional information literacy skills

They stated by the end of their presentation, members of the audience who didn't already own a smart phone would be inticed to run out and buy one. Hmmm... I don't own a smart phone, I found their presentation compelling, but I am not sure if I am ready to make that leap just yet!

* As a side note: I played whirly word on my friends' iPhone for several hours last weekend. That game is only available for iPhones - now I feel the need to have a smart phone!!!

** I love their idea of QR codes. I think I am going to add them to the stacks where I work and see what happens.