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

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

3. Discrete Symbology

4. Continuous Symbology

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

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

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

8. 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

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

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

11. Bar-code system

12. Thermal Transfer Printer

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

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

15. TYPES OF SCANNERS (READERS)
 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

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

17. Contact Readers

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

19. Table mounted fixed beam reader

20. Table mounted fixed beam reader

21. Hand-Held moving beam readers

22. Fixed beam slot scanner

23. CCD Scanner

24. Portable Data Collection Equipment

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

26. APPLICATIONS …
 SHIPPING
 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

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

28. APPLICATIONS …

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

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

31. INCORPORATING BAR
CODE IN LIBRARIES
 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

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

33. Thank You