[OPEN-ILS-GENERAL] Wireless Barcode Scanners

[Will Matheson]

Hello,

We purchased a CS3000 barcode scanner. You have to go through some steps 
to program it for Codabar (or whatever format your library uses). It 
saves barcodes line by line in a text file on the device (it acts like a 
general USB storage device and you also charge it that way). For the 
purpose it was built for, it performs admirably and is pleasant to use.

The serious downside to this method is that you have to do your 
processing in Evergreen in batches. Our provider also recommended we 
split our barcode lists into smaller chunks. And when barcodes don't 
point to items, there is no warning, just fewer items on the item status 
screen than you expected given your barcode list. This can be a bit of a 
nightmare, and it is why we stopped doing it this way and switched to 
having a laptop with wi-fi signed into Evergreen on a shelving cart in 
order to perform inventory in real-time (using the Update Inventory 
check-in modifier), then running a report. Much easier, and we're not 
chasing down so many issues after the fact like trying to find 
non-catalogued books based on the order barcodes were scanned in.

It's now occurring to me you might be looking for a scanner that acts 
like a conventional handheld barcode scanner plugged into a computer but 
is wireless. I don't have any experience with those. But we're getting 
along fine with a laptop on a cart, excepting a few wi-fi dead spots. 
Also, the better the laptop is, the better - there is a lot of 
client-side stuff going on in Evergreen and some older machines really 
aren't up to the task.

Cheers,

William Matheson
Library Assistant - Technical
Prince Rupert Library

* * *

Hello,
I suspect there are many libraries investigating some type of wireless 
barcode scanner.
I would appreciate advice about brnads/models and their compatibility 
and usability with Evergreen and mobile devices such as tablets etc.

Thanks,

Jennifer Bruch
ILS Application Specialist
Pennsylvania Integrated Library System
717-818-2703
support at sparkpa.org

-- 
William Matheson
Library Assistant - Technical
Prince Rupert Library