LM_NET: Library Media Networking
Thank you for the overwhelming response to my request for information about
barcode placement. Here is an attempt to share the different views and
highlights.
I think that the major decision in selecting barcode placement is what
is most convenient for the librarian. I select to place mine vertically at
the top near the spine on the cover. This is easier for me since I'm
right-handed. I know of left-handed librarians who placed theirs on the back
cover...since it was easier for them while handling the scanner.
Pope1966@aol.com
I placed ours vertically along the spine on the back of the book. Then to
inventory it the book doesn't have to leave the shelf, you can just tip it
forward to scan it.
Connie Welch, Librarian cwelch@freenet.columbus.oh.us
i prefer on the back cover or spine. On the spine makes for easy inventory-
on the back prevents and visual alteration of the front and reference
reading to the call number on the spine. Please let me know what you find
out. . .
lgbendt@mindspring.com
The optimum location is probably in the same place that existing barcodes
have been placed. If I were doing over, I probably wouldn't select front
cover, parallel to spine, near top because I've found through experience
that this location often covers labels. On the other hand, during the
year I wasn't in media center several years ago, the media specialist
barcoded all new items on the back near bottom. Having barcodes in two
locations was a major pain for library assistant during busy circulation
periods and during inventory. When I transferred back to library, my
assistant's first request was for permission to re-barcode books so all
the barcodes were in same location. We've done that. If I were barcoding
a new collection, I'd probably go with back, parallel to spine, near top
-- not likely to cover up significant info, easy to tilt out and scan
during inventory, not likely to conflict with printed barcodes on cover.
gwilliams@williston.k12.sc.us
We have found that the barcodes on the spine of books is not the place
to place them. We now place one barcode on the front cover in the upper
right hand corner and one on the inside back cover on the upper left hand
corner. We find that those two locations permit the best scanning. We add a
third barcode and that goes either on page 52 or in the case of small books
on the title page. We find that even when other barcodes are missing, that
third one is usually there.
bookworm@lightspeed.net
I recently switched jobs to a library that was automated and had put the
labels on the inside back cover. The collection numbers about 20,000 and
needless to say my clerk developed carpal tunnel from doing inventory and
having to pull and open each book! We are in the process of relabeling the
barcodes on the spine (the same person who wanted to put them inside the book
required this, a non library person!) and it really is a nightmare! I
recommend somewhere on the back cover.
Catchy13@aol.com
We put them on the top of the back. We really like it because you just
pull the book out a small way with one finger to inventory it. Having them
on the back has not been a problem with children vandalizing them.
pwende@spasd.k12.wi.us
I like to have the barcode labels quite close to the spine for inventory
purposes -- don't have to take whole book from the shelf, just pull out
until barcode can be scanned.
At my old school, I had the barcodes on the back cover, parallel to the
spine. This worked really well for inventory purposes, but was a real
pain in the wrist for daily use. Kids tend to bring books to the
circulation desk with the front cover up, and every book needed to be
turned over to sign it out. At my brand new school, I've been able to
incorporate the best placement for inventory along with the best placement
for daily use by putting the barcode on the front cover of the book,
parallel to the spine, and 1" from the bottom edge. This worked really
well for me this year and I haven't come across any downside for this yet.
bknoepfel@richmond.sd38.bc.ca
In St. James-Assiniboia we have placed them at the back on the bottom, along
the spine. We found this the easiest location for inventory, especially for
big books that don't fit upright. By having the barcode up and down rather
than sideways, you do not have to pull the book out as far to scan it. One
of the rural school division's place the barcode on front, top right hand
corner because they found for checking out books they prefered it on the
front cover, it doesn't cover the summary on the back and for inventory you
just tip the book out a little to inventory it.
ceinarso@MINET.GOV.MB.CA
I work in 2 elementary libraries. One was automated when I came on. At that
site the barcodes are on the fronts of the books, along the spine. I thought
that was awful because the label disrupted the cover art and text.
When the other library I work at was automated, I chose to put the labels on
the backs of the books, along the spine, near the top.
I must say that for ease of check out and identification, the barcodes on
the fronts are MUCH more convenient.
kathrose@execpc.com
We put our barcodes on the outside back, bottom right, vertical (parallel
to the spine). That way we can do inventory (with our portable bar code
wand) easily. We simply slide a section of books out about 2" on the
shelf. We wand each book, then slide it back in place. Since the labels
are vertical, we don't need to pull the books out very far. This would
work as well (some say better) with the labels near the top. Vertical is
the important feature. We have an old-fashioned pen-light style bar code
reader, but I'm sure the scanner that reads the entire barcode at once
would work the same, as long as it is portable.
Another helpful aspect of having the barcodes vertical by the spine is that
when we have several books to check out at a time (we are a county office
library and send books to teachers as well as to the library for individual
student requests), we can turn over a stack of books, spread them out so
just the barcodes show on each, and wand several in rapid succession. This
can also be done with a scanner, if it can be removed from its stand.
jturner@tcde.tehama.k12.ca.us
Thanks to everyone who sent their ideas. I have just sent a sampling of
the suggestions given. Good luck making your choices!
Susan
Susan Fonseca Glenwood School (K-9)
Teacher-Librarian 51 Blenheim Avenue
<sfonseca@mbnet.mb.ca> Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Fax # (204)256-0616 R2M 0H9
"Let us read and let us dance - two amusements that will never
do any harm to the world." -Voltaire
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