We use 2 bar codes--one on the outside back cover for convenience and one on
the inside in case the outside one is damaged. That way we only have to
open the book if the outside one won't scan.
Marsha Redd
Librarian, Kelloggsville High School
Grand Rapids, MI
marsharedd@hotmail.com
Education is not a goal; it is a life-long process. Everyone is a student.
Everyone is a teacher.
----Original Message Follows----
From: Ladewig <shatz@VERIZON.NET>
Reply-To: Ladewig <shatz@VERIZON.NET>
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Re: [LM_NET] TARGET: placement of bar codes
Date: Wed, 6 Apr 2005 19:47:21 -0700
Netters,
In response to Betty Winslow's query about barcode placement (inside or
outside), I have an additional comment to add to my previous post of March
31, 2005 (see: Subject: Re: [LM_NET] missing barcodes & placement
-Suggestion):
Today a second grader came to my counter to check out. As she did, another
student came up and flipped open a large picture book (in order to find the
barcode). The sharp corner of the picture book missed her eye by less than
an inch. This has happened on more than one occasion. It is another reason I
have worked diligently to REMOVE barcodes (placed by my predecessors) on the
inside page or cover, and transfer them to the top back cover so books will
NOT have to be opened for checkout/return. Thankfully we have had no
injuries so far. Perhaps others have not had this potentially dangerous
problem arise, but at our school, we have the kids locate their barcodes to
speed up the process. Not only is opening a book to find the barcode
time-consuming, but it is awkward to hold open, and then lift a book to the
scanner when it is open, especially when you have another one stacked under
it. (Our scanner is on a holder, we don't trigger it).
While it would be highly unlikely for this sort of accident to happen at a
middle school or high school, here at an elementary site it has the
potential of happening frequently, with students flipping open large picture
books, especially at a counter that is the height ours is.
Perhaps you have the "luxury" (may I call it that?) of having a clerk who
can flip open and close each book at the circ desk while you continue
assisting students or other tasks, but many of us (especially at elementary
sites) are on our own. We MUST to find efficient ways of doing our most
frequent tasks, or we would easily be overwhelmed by the number of high
frequency, repetitive tasks like circulation. Having barcodes on the back
enables my 4th - 6th graders to scan in and out their own books. It enables
me to "stagger and stack" and very efficiently scan a group of 4 or 5 books
for fast check in or out. Occasionally teachers send quantities of books in
without students who can stay to assist me. By stack and stagger (staggering
the barcodes) I can get through encyclopedia sets or state books in just
moments instead of minutes, and minimize repetitive wrist damage. Having
them on the outside speeds up inventory exponentially.
Perhaps others can justify placing barcodes inside, I can't. Others may say
they are concerned about barcodes on the outside being damaged, and they may
be right about this at their site. I can tell you that I have seen more
barcodes (left uncovered) on the INSIDE of books damaged than barcodes on
the outside damaged. I would encourage Betty and others to strongly consider
the long-term benefits of outside placement versus "saving the cost of a
barcode cover" - it's ten cents very well invested, in my experience.
Joanne Ladewig, Library Media Technician (a.k.a. "Library Lady")
Lawrence Elementary School, GGUSD
Garden Grove, CA USA
shatz@verizon.net
---Comments are my own and may not reflect the views of GGUSD.
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