[Koha] what kind of barcode?

[Al Calame]

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 at 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 at 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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