Hi All! I haven't posted in some time, but this is one I can really speak to. You can use just about any barcode symbology for the barcodes that you apply to the booksin your collection. Actually, Code 39 is one of the simplest choices because it is almost universally available from companies that produce preprinted barcodes. It is very flexible because it is alphanumeric, and so you can even make the barcode somewhat more meaningful. In the libraries ( I have been involved in the automation of several hundred libraries over the last 25 years or so) that I assisted in automating in the past, we always used Code 39 barcodes, and included both an alpha and a numeric part of the code to identify each book uniquely for circulation purposes. E.G. For the barcodes United Talmud Torahs Elementary School in Montreal, the barcodes consisted of the libray holding symbol - QMUT (This was assigned to them by the National Library of Canada), and 6 numeric digits, starting with 000001. For example, QMUT002345. [Unique alpha codes are assigned to any library in Canada upon request and may used in connection with InterLibrary Loan. A similar code may be assigned to libraries in the United States through the Library of Congress.] In this way the barcode on the item, which may have the Library Name printed above the code and the number below it, will uniquely be identified and cannot be accepted in error by other libraries or branches as it could be if you use a purely numeric code that uses a sequence starting at 1 and incrementing. You need to be sure that the barcode reader that you purchase for use with your system can read the code you select, and that the correct number sequence is entered into each record in the correct field and subfield used to contain the circulation information - often 852 $p. ISBN codes are not useful in a library circulation application because you may have more than one copy of an item. Each item must have a unique barcode number to identify it. I trust this is helpful to you. If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to ask. Regards, Albert P. Calame Librarian-At-Large Libray Automation Consultant Montreal, Quebec, Canada albert.p.calame@sympatico.ca Carol Ku wrote:

I think for books, they use ISBN which is a EAN 13 code. Can books use Code 39? Is there a industry requirment which code to use for books?

*/Lewis Satini <andylou17@hotmail.com>/* wrote:

If we are planning to buy pre-printed barcode. what kind of type do i have to look for? will it works with code 39 -> symbology+Library System Code +start&stop+checkDigit

Thanks

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