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

[Bob Molyneux]

George,

Just FYI, at ALA I asked an RFID vendor what ten million RFID tags would 
cost. He thought a bit and said, of course, it would have to be bid but he 
thought that in the end it would be about 16 or 17 cents a piece.

Bob

Bob Molyneux
VP Business Development
Equinox Software

>
>Excellent consideration, but in most cases the RFID option will be still 
>too expensive (at least for the moment).
>
>RFID readers go for $1500 or more and the label costs noted below are 
>pretty significant too.
>
>Also, keep in mind that you may require some changes to whatever 
>circulation software you are using, since presumably you'd want to use 
>more than the security features of RFID (data storage capabilities on 
>RFID, etc.). New RFID labels (I think they're 1 1/2" square) may need to 
>be more hidden too, to prevent them from being removed and apparently 
>aren't supposed to go on the outside of the item I was told by one of the 
>vendors (I think he mentioned magnetic influence ??)
>
>But things are getting closer for RFID in libraries... The scanners we're 
>purchasing - LS2208 from Symbol (now Motorola) - were under $175Cdn.  A 
>couple of years ago this kind of scanner would have cost over $600 bucks 
>if I recall correctly. BTW, we also have good success with the Voyager 
>9540 kit from Metrologic @ $205Cdn.
>
>I think if you went with RFID right now you'd be paying too much of an 
>"early bird premium."  This field is still in early growth mode so 
>probably in another year or two we'll see these hybrids (and labels) come 
>down in price quite significantly and then see some libraries find it cost 
>more cost-effective.
>
>
>George Duimovich
>NRCan Library / Bibliothèque RNCan
>Tel: (613) 996-2101
>
>
>
>
>
>----------
>From: open-ils-general-bounces at list.georgialibraries.org 
>[mailto:open-ils-general-bounces at list.georgialibraries.org] On Behalf Of 
>Don Hamilton
>Sent: April 27, 2009 1:51 PM
>To: Evergreen Discussion Group
>Subject: Re: [OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] Barcoding an Entire Collection From Scratch
>
>Hi all. This doesn't answer the question, but...
>
>I just want to suggest that you look into purchasing barcode/rfid hybrids, 
>which I'm pretty sure exist. If you are going to the work of sticking 
>something on, then stick an rfid tag with barcode printed on it.
>
>There is a LARGE cost difference (1 cent a barcode vs 25 cents a tag was 
>the estimate I saw) but labour will be the biggest cost, and the extra 
>cents per tag goes towards future proofing your collection.
>
>Just a suggestion. Haven't been there, nor done that, nor gotten the 
>t-shirt... but it seems sensible.
>
>Don
> >>> Adam Ray <aray at slcconline.edu> 27-04-2009 1:33 PM >>>
>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


Bob Molyneux
drdata at molyneux.com
XyWrite forever!