I agree with Giles' opinion that your regular handheld barcode scanner
is sufficient for 95% of use cases and it's a very simple machine --
brand means almost nothing. If the issue is cost, when I wanted one for
scanning my own home collection I got a used library barcode scanner
(Symbol 1908T-X) on eBay for $9 (+$20 shipping) and then looked up the
manual online to customize the settings.
Riesner, Giles W. <mailto:gries...@ccbcmd.edu>
July 1, 2014 at 3:42 PM
Riley,
Basically ANY barcode scanner would work for you. Barcode scanners
simply read in data as though it was typed in from a keyboard.
What matters is that you have the symbologies you need enabled.
Library barcodes tend to be Codabar (which is not always enabled
by default), while stores often use UPC/EAN (which is usually
enabled). And the barcodes for our students and staff at the College are
in Code 128. If you can attach the barcode reader to a laptop and scan
the barcodes into a blank text file, then it's enabled.
If you grab a copy of the manual for the barcode reader you can see
how to program in any prefixes or suffixes you need and
more - things like being able to tell which symbology is being used.
If all you're doing is scanning in barcode numbers to say that this
piece of equipment is here, you don't even need a special
program, just a text file that can be imported into Excel. We do
something similar and upload data to our library system to update
the inventory of our collection at the various Branches.
There are indeed apps for Android and IOS devices that might enable
you to use a phone to do it too.
Just my .02 worth.
Regards,
Giles W. Riesner, Jr. | Lead Library Technician , Library Technology
The Community College of Baltimore County | 800 South Rolling Road |
Catonsville, MD 21228 USA
Phone: 1-443-840-2736 | Fax: 1-410-455-6436 | Email: gries...@ccbcmd.edu
CCBC. The incredible value of education.
-----Original Message-----
From: Code for Libraries [mailto:CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU] On Behalf
Of Riley Childs
Sent: Monday, June 30, 2014 9:24 PM
To: CODE4LIB@LISTSERV.ND.EDU
Subject: [CODE4LIB] Barcode scanner
I am trying to find a barcode scanner that i can do inventory with, I
was looking at the KDC20, but it is a tad out of my price range, what
barcode scanner do you like? I have a Metroset Voyager (Honeywell
branded) that i like, but am trying to see what others have and get
some better suggestions.
Riley Childs
Student
Asst. Head of IT Services
Charlotte United Christian Academy
(704) 497-2086
RileyChilds.net
Sent from my Windows Phone, please excuse mistakes
Riley Childs <mailto:rchi...@cucawarriors.com>
June 30, 2014 at 9:23 PM
I am trying to find a barcode scanner that i can do inventory with, I
was looking at the KDC20, but it is a tad out of my price range, what
barcode scanner do you like? I have a Metroset Voyager (Honeywell
branded) that i like, but am trying to see what others have and get
some better suggestions.
Riley Childs
Student
Asst. Head of IT Services
Charlotte United Christian Academy
(704) 497-2086
RileyChilds.net
Sent from my Windows Phone, please excuse mistakes
--
Ruth Collings
Web Librarian
ruthcollings.ca <http://ruthcollings.ca>
