[OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] Barcoding an Entire Collection From Scratch

[Duimovich, George]

Hello Adam,
 
re: 1) printing barcodes, one of Equinox's employees (Ben Ostrowsky) in
a previous job wrote a Barcodes-on-the-Fly Helper to produce barcodes in
a PDF format that you can print out on label sheets.
 
http://www.tblc.org/barcodes/
 
Since you're creating new ones, you only need to keep track of the
ranges you've already used or plan on using.
 
George D.
 
________________________________

From: open-ils-general-bounces at list.georgialibraries.org
[mailto:open-ils-general-bounces at list.georgialibraries.org] On Behalf Of
Adam Ray
Sent: April 27, 2009 1:33 PM
To: Evergreen Discussion Group
Subject: Re: [OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] Barcoding an Entire Collection From
Scratch


A few more specific questions:

1. Do you print your barcodes or use pre-printed? If you print them
yourself, how do you pass the right number on to the printer?

2. What method do you use for assigning the barcode number?

Adam Ray
SLCC IT Director
(314) 837-6777 x1250

----- Original Message -----
From: "Roma Matott" <rmatott at pls-net.org>
To: "Evergreen Discussion Group"
<open-ils-general at list.georgialibraries.org>
Sent: Monday, April 27, 2009 12:21:11 PM GMT -06:00 US/Canada Central
Subject: Re: [OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] Barcoding an Entire Collection From
Scratch

Hi Adam -

I have helped a few of our libraries become automated in our current ILS
so I have a few logistical tips which might help:

* Decide where on the item you want the barcode to be and be sure to
place it in that location on each book.  Nothing is more frustrating
than searching for a barcode with patrons waiting to check out.  Our
libraries prefer to have the barcode on the outside front cover so that
inventorying and check out is easier. 

* We barcoded the popular items first and left the non-circulating and
less popular items for after we went live.  Sometimes barcoding an
entire collection seems daunting - like it will never end - and this
option makes it seem less overwhelming.  And if a patron tried to
checkout a non-barcoded item, we were able to circ it on the fly and
then fix it when it came back.  

* I would recommend placing the barcode on the item as you are adding it
to the system.  We tried a few times to have volunteers take books off
the shelves, put barcodes on them and deliver them to a staff member to
add, but it was far to easy to mix up those items with those that had
been added with those that hadn't.  If you put the barcode on when you
add it, you can easily tell its status.

* If you can do it, we found closing the library to barcode worked best.
Trying to barcode while keeping up with the day to day can be
challenging - not to mention it takes much longer.  By closing we were
able to use library tables & chairs to set up barcoding stations so that
more people could work on it.  Then when it is over, have a mini
celebration for all who helped :)

* Any items that we could not find a MARC record for, we put aside and
let our cataloger handle.  

Hope this help!  Good Luck!

Roma
Pioneer Library System
----- Original Message -----
From: "Adam Ray" <aray at slcconline.edu>
To: "open-ils-general" <open-ils-general at list.georgialibraries.org>
Sent: Monday, April 27, 2009 12:30:27 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: [OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] Barcoding an Entire Collection From Scratch


Our library currently has no electronic index/tracking and therefore
none of our books have been barcoded. For our initial rollout does
anyone have any suggestions as to a process we might follow? 

Adam Ray 
SLCC IT Director 
(314) 837-6777 x1250 

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