BAR CODE TECHNOLOGY AND ITS APPLICATION TO LIBRARY

BAR CODE TECHNOLOGY AND ITS APPLICATION TO LIBRARY SERVICES I R N GOUDAR HEAD, ICAST NATIONAL AEROSPACE LABORATORIES BANGALORE-560017

BAR CODE TECHNOLOGY l It is an automatic identification technology l Bar code is a predefined format of dark bars and white spaces l Structured to contain a specific piece of information l It allows real-time data to be collected accurately and rapidly l Combination of barcode technology with computer and application software improves performance, productivity and profitability

Discrete Symbology

Continuous Symbology

DATA ENTRY TECHNIQUES l MANUAL METHODS – KEYBOARD OPERATION – 1 ERROR/300 CHARACTERS l AUTOMATIC METHODS – OPTICAL CHARACTER RECOGNITION – MAGNETIC INK – MACHINE VISION – RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION – SMART CARDS – BAR CODE

BENEFITS OF BAR CODING l REPRESENT UNIQUE IDENTITY OF A PRODUCT l ACCURACY OF DATA INPUT (ERROR FREE) l AID EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF RESOURCES AND INVENTORIES l LABOUR SAVINGS BY AVOIDING MANUAL SYSTEM

BENEFITS … l COST EFFICIENT l REAL TIME DATA COLLECTION l MEASUREMENT OF WORK IN PROGRESS THROUGHOUT THE FACTORY l RAPID ACCESS TO TOTAL PRODUCTION COSTS l MORE ACCURATE DESPATCH

BAR CODE TERMINOLOGY o BAR - The darker, non reflective element of a Bar Code o BI-DIRECTIONAL SYMBOL - A Bar Code symbol format which permits reading in either direction across the bars and spaces o CHECK DIGIT - A calculated character included within the Bar Code for error detection o FIXED BEAM SCANNER - A stationary Bar Code Scanner. The symbol must be moved through the light beam to be read

TERMINOLOGY … l HAND-HELD SCANNER – A scanner held and operated by a human operator l INTER-CHARACTER GAP – The space between the bars or spaces l MOVING BEAM SCANNER – A Bar Code scanner that uses a moving light beam to dynamically scan and decode a Bar Code symbol

TERMINOLOGY … l SPACE – The lighter, reflective element of a Bar Code l START CHARACTER – A special pattern of bars and spaces used to identify the beginning of a Bar Code symbol l STOP CHARACTER – A special pattern of bars and spaces used to identify the end of a Bar Code symbol

Bar-code system

Thermal Transfer Printer

BAR CODE SCANNERS l. A device used to extract information optically from a Bar Code l Bar Code symbol consists of series of vertical dark bars separated by light spaces l When illuminated reflected light is detected by electro optical sensor l The intensity of reflected light from the dark bars is less than that of spaces

SCANNERS … l Reflected light is converted into electrical voltage signals l Analog l The voltages are digitized into raw data decoder converts this data into the character data representation of the symbol’s code

TYPES OF SCANNERS (READERS) l CONTACT READERS – Must touch or come in close proximity of symbol – Good where the label cannot be placed in an easy-to -view position – Normally hand-held/stationary units – Common type is pen/wand reader – A high-density resolution wand used to read a low- density symbol might see an ink spot as bar or an ink void as a space

CONTACT READERS l. A … low-resolution wand may not be able to recognise a narrow bar of high-density symbol l Positioned angle of wand to the surface and movement speed across the symbol are key parameters

Contact Readers

NON-CONTACT READERS l Reader need not come in contact with symbol l Scan distance may be from 6” to several feet depending upon symbol size and scanner design l Hand-held, fixed beam readers

Table mounted fixed beam reader

Table mounted fixed beam reader

Hand-Held moving beam readers

Fixed beam slot scanner

CCD Scanner

Portable Data Collection Equipment

BAR CODE APPLICATIONS l INVENTORY CONTROL – Portable readers l WORK-IN PROCESS TRACKING (WIP) COMPANY INVENTORY – Raw materials – WIP (Components, Assemblies, Semi finished Products) – Finished Products

APPLICATIONS … l SHIPPING l ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE (EDI) – Direct communication between computers of two companies (Manufacturer & Vendor) – Industry-wide EDI standards – Reduces cost and saves time of business transaction

APPLICATIONS … l RETAIL APPLICATIONS – Super markets – Counter-mounted Bar Code scanners – Universal Product Code (UPC) – Price and description information l WARE HOUSING l HEALTH CARE APPLICATIONS – Drugs, devices, instruments – Identification of expiry date – Blood banking Blood group l Expiry date l Donor traceability l

APPLICATIONS …

BAR CODING IN LIBRARIES l EFFECTIVE LIBRARY NEEDS EACH DOCUMENT BAR CODED l TWO LABELS PREFERABLY l LABEL TO CONTAIN – Accession number equivalent Bar Code – Call number – Institution logo advantageous l ISBN BAR CODE COULD BE USED

BARCODING IN LIBRARIES … DATABASE PROGRAM LINKS THE BAR CODE TO BIBLIOGRAPHIC DETAILS OF DOCUMENTS l AUTHORISED ID CARD INCLUDES BAR CODE l – Card could be used by library – Institutional ID card – Social security number BAR CODE READER INTERFACED TO COMPUTER l TRACKING OF BOOKS l

INCORPORATING BAR CODE IN LIBRARIES l THE TYPICAL SEQUENCE WOULD BE – Database creation (OPAC) – Generate Bar Code for all transact able documents – Bar Code membership cards – Installation of suitable scanning equipment – Set different criteria for transactions

ADVANTAGES OF BAR CODE IN LIBRARIES n Quick and error free entry of access and membership codes n Ensures total integrity of collected data n No queuing up at check out/check in counters n Avoids piling up of data entry work for counter staff n Aids generation of suitable reminders to delinquent borrowers n Stock verification made easy

Thank You