I've very behind in posting the replies but I want to thank everyone who
sent me information on how they are using bar codes in their firms. I
found a couple of web sites that may also be useful:
Bar Codes:
http://www.adams1.com/pub/russadam/barcode1.html
Faxon's Bar Code Resource Guide:
http://www.faxon.com/Standards/barcode/barcoderg1.html
Thanks for all your help!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Joan Loftus loftus@netcom.com
Pillsbury Madison & Sutro (415) 983-1770
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Summary of Replies:
**********************
I bar code on Saturdays at Gallagher Law Library at the University
of Washington. We put bar codes in the upper right corner of the back
cover, approximately a quarter inch below the top and a quarter inch in
from the spine hinge.
Our bar codes come from Graphic Technology, Inc. I don't know how
long we have used them, but to me, they appear to have enough adhesion to
stay on the books forever! I find them easy to apply, also.
You will undoubtedly get more thorough answers, but I thought
(since I am bar coding today) I would let you have a view from the
trenches.
--Fred Hanson
*******************
We are in the second stage of barcoding. The first stage was completed
with summer help two years ago and involved smart barcodes generated from
the shelf list (using Bibliophile). This was really a combination shelf
reading, barcoding, weeding and identifying problem titles. At that time
I made the decision to go with a single barcode located on the inside
front cover.
Currently we are using the need to shift the serials to get all serials
bound volumes barcoded and item records all correct. When I was reviewing
Marquis (which turned into Horizon) I asked the maximum number of items
for a single bib record, the person with whom I was speaked said
"Theorectically no limit, but how many do you expect to need." When I
said that had more than one set with one thousand items, the response was
a subdued "Oh." However, I have since found another library which has
more than one set of the Federal Reporter 2nd and all barcoded and item
records set up. No problem there.
Two years after making the decision for one barcode, I would go with two bar
codes. One would be placed on the spine (unless physically impossible)
and the other on the title page with the cataloging information.
The presumption would be that the barcode on the spine would wear out,
but that the one on the title page would be more protected. Also, I have a
system of handling the backlog of deletions from the catalog. Basically,
when a title is discarded, the title page gets torn out (and now the
barcode number either copied onto it or the actual barcode peeled off and
taped onto the title page. The cataloger than has just title pages to
work around. The discarded book is actually gone, cutting clutter
considerably.
The barcode on the spine would make logging inhouse use a snap. Most of
our materials are used inhouse so circulation is not a valid measure of
use. The catalog software (Marquis/Horizon) has a setting which allows
you to scan reshelving. I plan to use it, but it would be so much easier
if the barcodes were on the spine.
Finally, I have discovered that the barcode readers work much better in
high light. Each barcode reader now has its own flourscent lamp next to
the workstation where this work is used. Prior to using the lamp, it
took three or four trys to get a scan on a good day. I tumbled to the
problem when it was virtually impossible to get the d*mn*d thing to read
on a cloudy day. But the next day (which was bright and sunny) it worked
pretty fair.
Finally, since I am posting from Univ. of Md. account, the barcodes are
actually at Dept of Commerce Law Library, where I am the director.
Good luck with your project.
Billie J. Grey
Univ. of Md. Univ. College (Legal Research Instructor)
Dept of Commerce Law Library (Director)
*************************************
We put our barcodes on the inside front cover of the book, near the top, in
the middle or left or right. We varied the location on sets of books so that
the books wouldn't gain depth only in one area. By using this uniform
location, the users know where to look for the barcodes. It works quite well.
Why would you associate the barcodes with the card and pocket? Don;t you
intend to get rid of the card and pocket? I didn't use the outside of the
books because I didn't want to mess up out pretty, old law books. I am really
happy that I made this decision. The collection has gone high-tech without
upsetting any of the older partners. I purchased the barcodes from a vendor
recommneded by my automation vendor (DataTrek). They are even customized with
the name of the library. I like that.
Good luck.
Anne Abate
Dinsmore & Shohl
Cincinnati, OH
*******************************
Joan, We have had barcodes on our books for about 3 years now. Our
barcodes are on the back cover next to the spine at the bottom. We have
had no problems with them at all. We use datatrek for our circulation
system so we have gotten barcodes from them. Moreover, we have very few
lost books because our attorneys check them out easily.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Patricia Patterson | SCHIFF HARDIN & WAITE
Director | 7200 Sears Tower
Legal Information Services | Chicago, IL 60606
papat@class.org | 312-258-4701
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
********************************
We started barcoding a couple of years ago and decided to place the
barcode on the inside fron cover (on the right) to make it easier to
scan the barcodes with a stationary barcode reader. I am very
curious, why would you want to place the barcode on the card or
pocket? We actually stopped placing cards and pockets in the books
after we automated circulation.
No one seems to miss having the card in the book, even though there
was initially concern expressed about finding materials in the PAC.
Actually, the PAC (in DRA) can be searched by barcode so that really
hasn't been a problem afterall.
We purchase our Computype barcodes through SOLINET.
Carol Nicholson
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
% %
% Carol Avery Nicholson Kathrine R. Everett Law Library %
% Technical Services Librarian University of North Carolina %
% Carol_Nicholson@unc.edu Chapel Hill, NC 27599 %
% Tel: 919/962-1199 Fax: 919/962-1193 %
% %
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
*****************************
We use DataTrek. I didn't buy the self-serve circulation module that they
sell. Instead, we just logon the public computer up to the point of check-out
and let the attorneys check out their own books. All they have to do is type
in their ID (their telephone extension), and run the wand over the bar code.
We have been running this way for about a year and it works well. There are a
few who will never learn, and we just help those. They always have the option
of using the manual sheet (write down the book and your name) if they are
completely clueless. The system also goes down overnight and over the
weekends so the manual system has to work as a backup at those times.
Let me know if you need any other details.
Anne
Anne Abate
Dinsmore & Shohl
Cincinnati, OH
**************************
Joan, I have worked in two libraries during the barcoding process. Both
were academic libraries.
In one of the libraries, the Tech. Services department insisted that all
items be uniformly barcoded in the upper left hand corner of the page
facing the back cover (not inside the back cover itself, but on the page).
In the other library, the items were barcoded on the front cover of the
book, sideways, near the bottom of the book.
Your decision will probably be influenced by what type of scanner is to
be used. For the first scenario, we used a hand held wand, and for the
second scenario, a stationary scanner. To be honest, I much preferred
the bar code on the front cover of the book. People sometimes would tear
out the page with the bar code when it was placed there. It was a little
harder for anyone to mutilate the bar code when it was placed on the
front of the book.
Hope this helps you.
--------------------------------------
Christine M. Stouffer, Reference Librarian
Ritter Library, Baldwin-Wallace College
Cleveland, OH. 44017 (216) 826-2206
*******************************
We went up on our on-line catalog about 4 years ago. Before we barcoded
we had the GREAT DEBATE over where to put the barcodes. I thought it was all
settled (we decided to put them on the inside front cover at the top) but it
has been raised once again. The reason this question has come up again even
though we have almost all of our collection barcoded and linked to the bib
record is because of the inventory module. There is evidently (I have yet to
see one) a hand held wand reader that allows you to go through your collection
wanding barcodes as the books sit on the shelf. Later you load the information
into the computer and it lets you know which books are missing.
One of the campus libraries decided to put their barcodes on the outside
front cover and are now gloating to the other libraries because they don't
have to pull the book totally off the shelf and open it to get the barcode
from it. They say that the wear and tear of having it on the outside is no
problem, so once again we are looking at changing our policy and putting all
of them on the outside. However, we are looking into it again because we have
a hard time imagining barcodes on the outside of some of the kinds of binding
that we receive here.
On another note, for unbound periodicals, CFR's and other pamphlet
volumes I have found that they are much easier to work with if the barcode is
on the outside.
We went with a recommended vendor for our barcodes. The company is
COMPUTYPE at 2285 West County Road C; St. Paul, MN 55113. We have been very
pleased with them and all of the University of North Dakota libraries use
their barcodes. They have different styles, sizes and strength of glue.
They are a good company to work with.
Hope this helps!?
Kaaren Pupino
Serials Librarian
Thormodsgard Law Library
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, ND 58202
(701) 777-2486 (If you have any questions)
--------------------------------------
*****************************
It helps to put them outside, and on the back they're less likely to
cover something important. If you put them in a position that makes
it easy to rock the book out for a quick inventory scan that's
helpful too. We get ours from Computype in St. Paul. (800) 328-0852.
Through Solinet we get single dumb labels for about $25./1000, and pairs of dumb
labels (for large retrospective projects) at twice that. Good luck,
John P. Bissett
Cataloging Librarian
Washington and Lee University
School of Law Library
Lexington, VA 24450
(703) 463-8546
jpb@wlu.edu
********************************
We haven't had problems with the barcodes falling out. Also, our
campus adopted a student id card (UNC 1 card) which has their barcode
id. It is also used for all sorts of other purposes, such as gym/pool
privileges, opening the Law School door after hours, and paying for
meals on campus.
Have fun,
Carol
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
% %
% Carol Avery Nicholson Kathrine R. Everett Law Library %
% Technical Services Librarian University of North Carolina %
% Carol_Nicholson@unc.edu Chapel Hill, NC 27599 %
% Tel: 919/962-1199 Fax: 919/962-1193 %
% %
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
********************************
Joan, Our attorneys use the rolodex next to the computer from which they
check out their books. The rolodex contains cards with their names and
corresponding barcodes. They use the light gun to scan their barcode
then scan the book or books they are checking out. It goes so fast that
we hardly have anyone skip out without checking them out. I think they
like to think they are high tech attorneys when they can do it themselves.
Good luck!
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Patricia Patterson | SCHIFF HARDIN & WAITE
Director | 7200 Sears Tower
Legal Information Services | Chicago, IL 60606
papat@class.org | 312-258-4701
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
********************************
We placed our barcodes in two places on treatises and bound periodicals:
on the lower right corner of the back cover, and on the upper left of the last
page of the text block. On the back cover we use the rule of thumb: that is,
one thumb joint up from the edge and one over from the bend in the spine.
Reasoning: if the cover was torn off a barcode would still be on the text.
On binders we put one on the back cover and one on the inside of the
front cover. Nothing on the pages as they could be replaced and tossed.
Unbound periodicals only get one on the back cover, as that's removed
during binding.
We have "3-ups" for barcodes: 2 standard sized and one small number
label, no magnetic stripes. We use the small one on cassette and video tape
cartridges and place one large one on the case. Also used in on the print outs
when reclassing. On the whole, we throw those away.
We order barcodes with our main library so we are in sequence and don't
duplicate each other.
Hope that helps!
Katherine Tooley
*******************************
There have been many discussions on this on a list called AUTOCAT. You
may want to search AUTOCAT archives under the topic barcodes.
{my sig is below}
_______________________________________________________________________
Brian Striman | Head of Technical Services &
Schmid Law Library | Catalog Librarian
Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Law | e-mail:brians@unllib.unl.edu
P.O. Box 830902 | Office: 402-472-8286
Lincoln, NE 68583-0902 | Fax: 402-472-8260
========================================================================
****************************
We put our bar code inside the left front cover on the bottom
and near the fold (does this make sense?) Anyway if makes it
easy to open the book and read the number with the scanner. We don't
use cards and pockets anymore since we have the bar codes.
Carol Bannen
cbannen@gatekeeper.rbvdnr.com
Reinhart, Boerner etal
1000 N. Water St.
Milwaukee WI 53202
414-298-8253
fax 414-298-8097
***************************
Good luck- it's a labor intensive task but worth it in many ways.
My tips include:
1. use dumb barcodes, it's impossible to hit every book
when you begin so "leaving" out numbers waiting
for a book to show is endless
2. position- we place it on the back upper right corner
minimal slamming onto the shelf, easy to
shelf read, just tip the book out, for inventory
visible but not touched too much when opening
either cover
3. get 2 copies of the barcode number- one for the book
the other (your choice) digital and slim to attach
to the shelflist card or printout, using another
copy of the barcode on the shelflist takes up
a lot of room, Fed. Rptr requires a FEW cards!
4. get a clear coating on top of the barcode, it definitely
keeps them from damaging quick
5. use a vendor to produce them if possible, doing them in-house
is time consuming and could be inconsistent
(we used Data Composition)
6. plan for your future, allow for other branch office ID
if you think that might happen
our use code 3of9 scheme and say in 5 pt (very tiny)
Dechert Price & Rhoads- Philadelphia
**also helps with interlibrary loan among various libraries
That's it off the top of my head. Let me know if you want to hear more.
Thanks for reading............................................
Suzanne Devlin____________________ D D P P P R R R
Systems Librarian_________________ D D P P R R
DECHERT PRICE & RHOADS____________ D D P P P R R
4000 Bell Atlantic Tower__________ D D P R R
Philadelphia, PA 19103-2793______ D D P R R
(215)-994-2156, (215)-994-2222 fax (devlin@hslc.org)
**********************************
We put the bar codes on the back cover of all books and serials - mainly
for the convenience of attorneys. This way they do not have to hunt for
the bar code label - it is always in the same place and easily found.
HOpefully it encourages them to check out books and not get frustrated
and leave the library without checking out the books. I was worried that
bar codes might come off but they have not. ( I was prepared to replace
if needed and thought this would be a relatively inexpensive trade-off for
easily found bar codes.) We use barcodes supplied by Data Trek. They
have proved durable and long-wearing.
Wendy Moorhead
Keck Mahin & Cate
Chicago, Illinois
kmc@interaccess.com
***********************************
We have a rolodex file right beside the computer with the DataTrek
checkout system. Each attorney has a card with his name
on it as well as a number we have assigned as his "library number". Thus
they have to carry nothing with them - there is nothing they can forget
to have with them at the moment. of checkout! We wanted to make the
system as SIMPLE as possible to use - so it would be used and not ignored
as too frustrating. Can't remember if I also memtioned that we do an office
scan every two-three weeks so we can pick up any books that traveled to
another attorney's office or were not checked out.
No, I don't mine your putting my name to your compilation of responses.
Feel free to call or send another e-mail if the above is not clear.
312-634-5615
Wendy Moorhead
Keck Mahin & Cate Chicago, Illinois
kmc@interaccess.com
*********************************
At my last library we started a bar coding project on a Macintosh
system. The bar code labels were generated as needed, using a laser printer in the library = we tried to print labels in multiples of 12 to limit waste
of labels. The only problem was some sticking of labels in the printer
because of the heat. The labels were placed on the back of the book - outside
back cover (with regular label protector used for spine labels over it) and
inside the book. The attorneys were encouraged to use the wand to sign the
books out themselves - we didn't have anyone at the front desk (downsizing!)
but his didn't work too well - system was slow and they got impatient. We
still put pockets and cards in the books.
At this library we hope to start bar coding sometime next year - we think
the labels will go on the pocket and card - probably not on the outside of
the book. We think we will be taking the information off the card and putting
it into the computer. the label on the back of the book was going to be for
inventory control more than anything else - walk around with a portable PC with a wand to take inventory.
Never put into practice, so i'm not sure how well it would have worked.
The main advantage would be in generating overdue notices because the circulaiton information would be in the computer. I'd be interested in hearing what
responses you received to this request.
Roseanne Shea
Cummings & Lockwood
Stamford Ct
RMSHEA@Delphi.com
***************************
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