August 22nd, 2010 at 12:02pm
Under Forum
does anyone have a library barcode i can use?
like dis library is actt\ing stupid first i go in there and then i didn have my vard so i was like can u look my barcode up they said weres ur ied i said mam i dont have one she says weell i ant so then i go get my dad and i put his barcode in da computer n it dont work i ask them can they help me cause its not workin they say since its not yours i cant i go to teen services day cant help me either that was very rude and i am so ticked off right now please someone give me a barcode help me i only got til 6 oclock
Best answer:
743964-453774-468253
By Barcode Scanner
August 7th, 2010 at 09:02pm
Under Forum
how do i make an barcode reader app in vb? is there a special library?
Best answer:
Barcode readers send information through your keyboard port – so any field that allows you to type can be used to read info from the barcode.
In other words – you don’t need to do anything special to allow you program to read barcode scans.
By Barcode Scanner
July 24th, 2010 at 12:39am
Under Forum
What triggers the alarm of a library?
I was just curious at what part of the book actually causes the exit of the library to go off, people tell me its the barcode, but I think that if someone were to steal a book then all they have to do is rip the barcode right? I know its not that easy, but does anyone know exactly what causes the alarms to go off?
Best answer:
A device called a ‘tattle tape’ which is a sticky strip with a magnetic socket in it, (its basically a thin flat wire), is put down the book spine or inside one of the pages. When trying to get through the gate way at the library door the alarm will set off if the magnetic strip has not been ‘desensitised’ (Checked out).
Sometimes you can spot them, other times you can’t. Green tattle tapes are used in paperback books whilst white are used in hardback books.
By Barcode Scanner
May 13th, 2010 at 06:01am
Under Forum
How can I look up my library card barcode number online?
I can’t find my card right now, but I want to check whether I’ve got any books still due to be returned and want to do that from the comfort of my home computer, since the library is MILES from here. Web services or ideas that could help, anyone?
Best answer:
Find your library’s or library system’s website. (Depending on where you live and how unique its name is, this can be easy or surprisingly difficult.) With luck, it’ll have some clumsy (often CARL, long the cheapest library software) system which allows you to check your card account’s activity using the card’s number and your last name.
It should be able to tell you what items you have checked out, which are overdue and how long, and how much fine you owe, if any.
By Barcode Scanner
August 21st, 2008 at 04:37am
Under Forum
Does anyone know how a library scanning system works?
Just curious…like how does it gather all the information from the barcode and know to register it in the system??
Best answer:
The answer is, that the barcode doesn’t have ALL of the information. The barcode is just a scannable number. There will be a database where someone has registered the details of that book against the barcode. when you scan the barcode the returned number is cross referenced against the database. Some library systems may already have the information built into the system that they have from some standard source like the ISBN system so they wont have to manually add every book.
By Barcode Scanner
March 23rd, 2008 at 11:57pm
Under Forum
a question about library books – how do they go missing?
every library has an alarm system, and each book always has a barcode (to scan) and yet many of these books go missing in the library i volunteer at!
how on earth do i stop them from disappearing? how do these theives bypass our alarm system? from what i know removal of these scan codes do not stop the system from sniffing you out!
gosh. and my head librarian is going crazy can u guys help??
PS: i’m not sure what category to put this so i’m just gonna try out one i think receives lots of answerers.
Best answer:
Sorry to say this, but I have never seen a very good security system at any library.
Although, I don’t understand people that would steal from a library!
By Barcode Scanner
October 22nd, 2007 at 10:34pm
Under Forum
How do I scan my library card’s barcode to print it in the same proportion?
I want to do this because I don’t like carrying around my library card, it could get lost and etc.
I have a scanner by the way, but every time i scan it’s too large.
Best answer:
Your scanning at a higher dpi so the printer prints at that.Print and 100 %
Scan at the same DPI the your printer is set at.
Most likely 300 dpi. check your printer setting to find out. match the printer settings with your scanner settings.
By Barcode Scanner
October 16th, 2007 at 02:04am
Under Forum
Library barcodes: How to generate barcode images from id numbers?
I have scanned the barcodes for all my library patrons into a text file. Here is what it looks like:
03404500074263 frish_katie_l
03404500001555 schmidt_john_jacob_j
03404500002191 smith_denaiah
(The number is the barcode id number for a library card, and the name, following the space, is the holder of that library card.)
What I need to do is generate a directory of images, where each image file is an *image* of the library barcode for each patron. So I need to end up with this:
C:\library_patrons\…
…frish_katie_l.jpg
…schmidt_john_jacob_jingleheimer.jpg
…smith_denaiah.jpg
Here is an example picture of a library barcode, FYI:
libraries.idaho.gov/files/Image1.preview.png
Is there any open source, free, or even pay-software available so I can do this? I have hundreds of students, so it really needs to be able to process a text-file (or spreadsheet or whatever) of a BUNCH of barcode ids. But failing that possibility, software that handles one id at a time is okay.
A second related question: I have found some “barcode” information on the web, but I don’t know what “type” or “format” these library barcodes are, so I don’t know what I’m supposed to be looking for, or what software requrements I…well…require. What type or format are these barcodes?
Thanks for any advice. I need it. :’ )
Best answer:
I’m not sure why you want to create a bunch of images. If its to print them out at some point then don’t use jpg to store them. The normal thing to do with barcodes is just print them out using a barcode font.
All you do is get a barcode font installed on your machine, then highlight the barcode number in a program that supports fonts (Word, Excel, etc) and change the font to the barcode font. When you print it out on paper it will be scannable.
If you use a raster image format like jpg, more than likely you wont be able to scan it after printing, not to mention there would be a bunch more steps involved just to get it into an image format.
Here’s a link to a free barcode font that I’ve used on many different pieces of software in the past:
squaregear.net/fonts/free3of9.shtml
One more thing, I’ve noticed that in every situation if I want to get a barcode to scan with a handheld scanner I have to surround the number with asterisks. In other words, if the code is 12345, then you have to store it as *12345*, and change that to the barcode font and print it. Without the asterisks it wont scan, at least in my experience.
By Barcode Scanner
July 19th, 2007 at 09:27am
Under Forum
They already have self checkout machines for library books. Does anyone think one day librarians will be gone?
I asked a librarian this question and she replied not in this lifetime. But really, if all you have to do is scan the barcode on your library card and then scan the book’s barcode it stands to reason at least that aspect of the librarian’s job description would be missing in this scenario of self checkouts.
Best answer:
There are a couple of issues here.
First, “library stafff” vs “librarian.” The person who checks out your books, does the shelving, etc., is usually not an MLS degree-holding librarian, except perhaps in smaller libraries. They may hold another title, like “library assistant,” “circulation clerk,” etc. This is not to say they aren’t talented/knowledgeable, but their job duties aren’t those of a librarian. Librarians usually deal with more complex functions of the library: assisting with research, managing the scope and nature of the collection, outreach, programming, designing instruction, etc. Have a look at the description in the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook:
bls.gov/oco/ocos068.htm
(Note that the outlook is actually listed as “favorable”)
That said, the increasing amount of technology and self-service in many libraries is changing both how much staff we need and what roles we have those staff doing. Perhaps there will be fewer people at the check-out desk (we’ll always need someone there to help solve billing problems, etc.), but they might take on other roles, like providing basic assistance in the computer area, helping with public programs, etc. Also keep in mind that, as long as there’s a physical collection of books, videos, etc., someone’s got to keep it in order, up-to-date, etc. That’s a role jointly split between librarians and other staff. So, there’s still a lot to do for quite a time to come.
Could everything go online and do away with the library? Again, not anytime soon. Even online resources cost money (since not every source wants to give their info away for free on the web). Libraries often purchase large databases of premium information that you and all your fellow users can use online and which go well beyond Google, etc. in their depth of information on certain topics. Librarians work to evaluate and select these, and then become experts in using them and teaching our patrons to use them on an as-needed basis. We’re also shifting our roles, from working behind desks to doing more “outside” work–helping with research, teaching communities to be more aware of the information sources they use, doing chat and IM-based reference assistance, etc. So, frankly, we’ve got more to do–not less!
Also have a look at librarycareers.org.
And this CNN report: cnn.com/2009/TECH/09/04/future.library.technology/
Hope this is helpful!
–Bill Pardue
Arlington Heights Memorial Library ahml.info
Librarians–Ask Us, We Answer!
Find your local Library at publiclibraries.com/
By Barcode Scanner
February 27th, 2006 at 11:32pm
Under Forum
How to implement a library bar code system?
I’ve been assigned to implement a completely new library information system utilizing bar coding for books, and in accordance to the Dewey decimal system. I guess the easy part is the database along with the GUI. But I have no clue where to start after that. Would bar code scanners be able to recognize ISBN bar codes, or should we opt to printing our own bar codes?
Best answer:
you can get a program to make your own barcodes, even for multiple different scanners. i cant remember the name of it, but i’m sure if you google enough you can find one.
then you can make your own barcodes, either by dewey decimal system or your own.
By Barcode Scanner
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