Have you heard of Quick Response Codes, or QR codes? They’re like a bar code that can be read by a smart phone or special QRC readers. QR codes link you to different kinds of information, and can be found printed in magazine ads, in news papers, on business cards, on book jackets, and many more places including on food and clothing! When I first learned about Quick Response Codes, I wasn’t sure how a librarian could use them, then I thought about the kinds of things library patrons might want to access quickly from the convenience of their cell phones (or QRC readers).
The Quick Response code could link to a librarian’s blog to announce special events coming to the library, like a book fair, or a visit from a storyteller, author or other special speaker. This could also be done through a link to the library’s monthly calendar of events. Librarians could use the QRC to highlight a book of the week, by creating a link to a review of the book or to information about the book. To highlight authors or illustrators, a link could be made to their web sites. The QRC could be used to connect students to research resources, acceptable use policy information, or instructions on how to properly cite sources. Students could tell others about their favorite books through book reviews.
The QR codes could also be used for practical applications, like allowing teachers to access the library’s browser while planning lessons. Parents could access information about their child’s library account to find out about overdue books or pay library fines. A book fair catalog could be created, so parents could browse with their children, before coming in to make a purchase. The possibilities for using QR codes in connection with the library are pretty exciting!
