QR Codes in the Mathematics Books - Update

Last Fall (2010), I began to think about how it would make the most sense to utilize QR codes in the mathematics section of the Ayala Science Library. I don't think it is surprising that I thought of linking to our mathematics ebook collections. Springer immediately came to mind for several reasons: 1) we stopped receiving print in 2008; 2) contains many mathematics books; 3) subsets of mathematics ebooks in SpringerLink were easily linkable; and 4) at the time, Springer's website functioned decently on a mobile device (unfortunately, this has since changed when they added the frames environment to giver viewers the preview look).I considered other publishers/vendors, but they were simply not functional in the way that I needed them to be.

 

This QR code takes the scanner to the Topology section of the Springer ebooks.

What do you think? Does this look aesthetically unpleasing or too intrusive to have the QR code shelf guides sticking out like this? Do you have other ways you would integrate the QR codes in the stacks of your libraries? How would you make them inviting to engage and encourage your patrons to use them?

Some Observations of Research Help

Provided research help yesterday for student in a lower division writing course. Some observations:

• Student used the word "website" continuously instead of "database."
• Student was confused about difference between Ebscohost, Academic Search Complete, and a particular subject database in Ebscohost.
• Student needed to use multiple databases, which only be found though different pathways. Thus, I had to repeat these pathways about 3-4 times. Can only hope student will remember.
• Student's assignment due "tomorrow" (which is now today, but you know what I mean)!
• Student wanted articles! Actually quite pushy about it, even though I was convinced he could find equally valuable information in books (perhaps even better).
• Student wanted citations (needed 15 for assignment). I was a little concerned he was just going to pile citations without actually reading the material.
• Student could not identity how to find full text. I can't say this is in any way the student's fault.
• Libraries' systems and databases do not make this easy
• The process looks & often is different almost every time (sometimes the SFX link goes directly to article, sometimes it doesn't).
• And of course, each database looks different. JSTOR has PDF easily visable. Another database has the PDF link made tiny and hidden off the right side of the screen. It goes on and on...
• Very hard to determine exactly what student does and doesn't know.
• Research need as expressed by student in completed form did NOT match actual student information need.
• Definitely good idea to write down notes for them as take away reminders. What are the key ideas they should walk away with after meeting with a librarian?

I was able to notice more because this student was fairly assertive, in this way gave some insight into his thought process (even if it was still confusing to me). No doubt my own responses confused him at times. 

I want to compile my observations and turn them in action items. Suggestions anyone? 

QR Codes in the Math Bookshelves

First things first. I am officially a Science Librarian now; however, I hope the "in training" part continues as long as I am a librarian.

Yesterday I put pink paperboard tabs in among the mathematics bookshelves at the library. On the end of these tabs were QR codes that take the viewer to various mathematics subject ebook collections in SpringerLink. I am very excited about the pilot project,a nd truly hope it gets some use.

As we have not been ordering print copies of Springer books since 2008, I have been concerned that the math book browsers (those who like to browse a section of the physical books rather than the online catalog) might be missing some of the most recently published books on a topic. With these QR codes, I hope to be leading math book users to the massive collections on mathematics ebooks. You may not realize this but a very large number of Springer books are in mathematics!

I will post some pictures later to give you an idea of what it looks like...

Took A Break For A Bit

The holidays have been a nice break from the craziness of school and work, but I have been delinquent in all my blogs. I was able to transfer my wordpress blog from my library science class to an edublog but it is still in need of major work and it seems that it would make the most sense for these two blogs to be merged. I will look into this over the next few weeks.

Over in the Kept-up Academic Librarian, there was a recent post on instructors and students friending each other on Facebook and the new challenges and opportunities this application and interaction presents to both communities. Although the article is referring to teachers (and not librarians), some of the concerns can be applicable to librarians. The article is not particularly scholarly or rich with informative content but it raises some valid questions that I have been wondering about for myself. For example, how will I manage my personal facebook account with having a professional presence? I have a friend who informed me that I could make lists of my friends and then customize the level of viewability friends within these lists could have with my other friends. So perhaps this is an appropriate route. I still need to explore it and see how it would actually play out.

Somewhere Else

I have been making all my academic posts in the last three months on a class blog => Falling Off A Blog Into Science Librarianship. Please check it out if you are interested because it will only be active for another month or so.

My Academic and Professional Occupations

In other words, what will be keeping me academically and professionally occupied this Fall semester.

• Instruction Internship at King Library (teaching MUSE, Science 2, English 1B, and some 100W library instruction classes as well as participating in the Science Librarian Team)
• Creating and Developing my E-Portfolio (the culmination of everything I have done in my MLIS career)
• LIBR 246 - Online Social Networking in Libraries (following M. Farkas' book)
• Special Collections and Archives student assistant work
• Treasurer for the Student Chapter of ALA
• Helping the SJSU Math Dept when needed (website and office work)
• And last, but not least, The Job Hunt (my ideal position is a Science/Engineering Subject Academic Librarian)

So I think I will be plenty busy this semester. While I am hoping that occasionally I will have time to breath, I am looking forward to everything that I will be learning. I am certain that it will be preparing me for my grand entrance into the LIS profession.

Oh, here is something that I did for my LIBR 246 class, an attempt to play with a Web 2.0 application. It is a wordle representation of this blog. Click on the image to view a larger version. Then try making your own wordle.

Photos from the SJSU Library Research Forum