QR codes are like the proverbial Christmas fruitcake: We've all seen them and discussed them, but don't know anyone who has actually tried one, yet they keep coming around year after year. The current discussion and ones like it have popped up on at least two other groups and lists in the last six months. And despite the interest and discussion, and posts from a few that note others have used them, we've still not seen any stats on actual use from institutions. Here's an interesting side-by-side test that can be done for free: - Post a QR code. Use one of the free/inexpensive services and track use. - Next to it, post a URL using one of several URL shorteners or a special landing page, such as www.YourMuseum/exhibit. This would send people to one page that lists the different items in an exhibit for which additional information is available. Users could click to read more, and then should be able to navigate back to the list or on to the next item. Track use using whatever tool you use to track use of your website. If you use a URL, you'll need to make sure that your site is responsive (i.e., can be read on a smartphone or tablet), which you should do anyway. Here's a post that explains why and how: http://www.thehistorylist.com/blog_posts/86-Using-QR-codes-at-historic-sites-and-other-ways-to-meet-the-needs-of-mobile-visitors. Would be great to see the results posted back here if a few institutions choose to carry this out. Best regards-- Lee . . . . . . Lee Wright Founder - The History List - www.TheHistoryList.com On Sep 19, 2013, at 7:11 AM, Kathie Gow wrote: > Trevor, love that idea, thanks! > > Kathie Gow > > Oral History Producer > http://www.wordspicturesstories.com > > Curator, Hatfield Historical Museum > http://hatfieldhistory.weebly.com > > > From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of REYNOLDS, Trevor > Sent: Thursday, September 19, 2013 5:23 AM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] QR codes in exhibits > > One option for visitors without smart phones is to have a page on your website where the pages that your QR codes link to are easily browsable. Then you can put on an introductory panel something like: > > "The QR codes in this exhibition will take you to more information about the exhibits. If you don't have a smart phone and want to look at the information after your visit go to www.our_museum.org/this_exhibition/QR/ " > > Trevor Reynolds > Collections Registrar, English Heritage > tel: +44 (0) 1904 601905. 37 Tanner Row, York, YO1 6WP > > > From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kathie Gow > Sent: 19 September 2013 01:30 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: QR codes in exhibits > > Jake and Lissa, I thought of that also – I don’t want to cut anyone out because they don’t want to or can’t pay the monthly Internet connection charges (that’s why I haven’t gotten a smart phone yet) – but I think adding a URL will make an already busy space (QR code, regular label or labels, artifact, and a museum full of items to begin with) so busy that visitors just move away, or keep on walking. We haven’t done this yet, but our plan is to buy or fundraise a tablet (approx. $150?) that visitors w/o smart devices can use to walk through the museum so they can access the QR codes. We have the advantage, though (cough, cough) of having a very small museum and one entrance point, so it will be relatively easy to keep an eye on the tablet. If you have a big museum and lots of visitors, of course you’d want more and then have some security issues to figure out. > > I am a QR code novice, but with help from our museum’s volunteer tech advisor (my husband), we have added our first few QR codes to an otherwise old-fashioned local historical museum. If you are also a novice, or considering doing this for your museum but are not sure how, I wrote a blog post that tells you how to do it (and the 2nd link tells about using SoundCloud to host your audio clips for free). > > http://hatfieldhistory.weebly.com/1/post/2013/07/ever-use-a-qr-code.html > > http://hatfieldhistory.weebly.com/1/post/2013/07/got-audio-stories.html > > > So far I’ve only gotten staff, volunteers and the library folks from downstairs to try the QR codes and listen to them, so I don’t have feedback from real visitors yet. It’s going to be a sales job to let people know they’re here. Does anyone have suggestions for getting people buzzed about checking them out? > > --Kathie > > > Kathie Gow > > Oral History Producer > http://www.wordspicturesstories.com > > Curator, Hatfield Historical Museum > http://hatfieldhistory.weebly.com > > > From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jacob Hildebrandt > Sent: Wednesday, September 18, 2013 3:23 PM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] QR codes in exhibits > > One thing I would lobby for is the inclusion of a human-readable URL included. Just like barcodes have the number printed below, I think QR codes should have their info printed in text close by for those without camera-bearing smartphones. URL shorteners like TinyURL and Bitly are great for this, giving the lower-tech visitor something to jot down and look at later (or even on-site, as many tablets and such don't have rear cameras). Like QR codes, they can also be used for tracking usage which is neat. > > --Jake Hildebrandt > > > On Wed, Sep 18, 2013 at 12:37 PM, FM Jacinto <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > I've experience QR code usage as a visitor. I thought it was extremely effective, linking me to additional photographs and anecdotes. It was well situated - in an area where benches already existed, preventing a log jam in the flow. It's a great method to link to video - at both an equipment and design/maintenance cost savings. > > FrannMarie Jacinto > > > On Sep 18, 2013, at 11:45 AM, Leary, Patrick wrote: > > > We're thinking of experimenting with QR codes next to labels on a new exhibit we're planning, so that we can share longer stories. We've never done this before. Does anybody have any advice about what worked well and what didn't when you've used these? > > > > Many thanks, > > > > Patrick Leary > > [log in to unmask] > > ========================================================= > Important Subscriber Information: > > The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). > > If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . 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