SCENARIO
Setting: Comprehensive research library with a large undergraduate population of 25,000.
Role: You are the emerging technologies librarian and are looking for ways to implement new technologies in the library.
Problem: Students often get lost in the stacks and need a librarian when there is no one in sight. You want to know if embedding Quick Response (QR) Codes within the library’s stacks could help bring digital and print environments closer together by linking to appropriate online content specific to the location or discipline in which they are placed.
You have identified three subject librarians to help carry out a pilot phase to determine if QR codes would be helpful to students in the stacks. QR codes are strategically placed in the Arts, Math, and Literature sections to help guide students. In this pilot phase you want to determine if they are used and if so, roll out subject-specific QR codes throughout the stacks in the library.
Utilizing a number of promotional materials such as end panel displays, shelf guides and posters, the team provided basic textual information about QR Codes and how to read them. The end panel displays and posters included QR Codes linking to the subject guide for the given area and another linking to a feedback form.
Shelf guides with QR Codes linked to a related subject e-book collection to supplement browsing in the Math section and linked to a breakdown of the relevant LC Classifications to ease browsing in the Art section.
To learn more about QR Codes and how they are used in the library see the following libguide:
http://libguides.lib.uci.edu/qrcodes
DATA:
QR Code Statistics Spring 2011
Hints:
Resources for Evidence Based Research in Libraries
Stephanie
Action-Based Research 
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