[Koha] Patron Barcode Question

[Becki Whitaker]

Correction!

The company is not Thor.  The correct information name is Infor, 
<www.infor.com>.  The 800# is correct. 

I need to use my glasses not just wear them!

Best,

Becki

---
Becki Whitaker
Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS)
6202 Morenci Trail
Indianapolis, IN 46268
317-298-6570 x106 / 800-733-1899 (IN only) / fax: 317-328-2380  
whitakerb at mcls.org / www.mcls.org / scion.incolsa.net



Becki Whitaker wrote:
> Nicole,
>
> If you want an identifying sequence of numbers that some barcode 
> symbologies use, there is actually a barcode registry for the usual 
> 4-digit identifying number.  Dating back to the early days of CLSI, it 
> is now maintained by Thor <www.thor.com>, the folks that bought Geac 
> and turned it into the Vubis Smart, Integrated Library System.   
> Anyway, they maintain a registry of the 4-digit identifier numbers -- 
> who has what where, etc.  Unfortunately and ironically, the registry 
> is still kept in a book and not accessible to anyone except them.  You 
> can call 800-765-4658 and submit your desired number.  They will check 
> the registry and tell you if the number is already assigned or not and 
> to whom.  Given that there are only 9999 unique numbers in this 
> scheme, many numbers are already taken. 
>
> The original purpose of the registry was to help folks have unique 
> numbers to aid getting ILL items back to the right library.  However, 
> we have found that even keeping track of what libraries are using in 
> our state helps, as do barcodes with library names on them that many  
> now use.  In our consortium, we starting using the last four digits of 
> the library's SAN number.  That won't work nationwide but so far it 
> has worked for us.  If a number is in use, you can decide if you are 
> perhaps geographically different enough to go ahead and use that number.
>
> And where do patron barcodes come from?  From the same place item 
> barcodes come from.  You can buy and/or create matching item and 
> patron barcodes once you have your pattern, i.e. patron numbers all 
> start with "2" and item numbers all start with "3", the next four 
> digits are your identifier, then fill 0s as needed for the length of 
> the barcode sequence, the accession number and maybe a check digit.   
> We've found Koha will take pretty much anything.  It's the library 
> that needs the pattern and the organization.
>
> Don't know if this is TMI but the registry might be useful for some.
>
> Best,
>
> Becki
> ---
> Becki Whitaker
> Midwest Collaborative for Library Services (MCLS)
> 6202 Morenci Trail
> Indianapolis, IN 46268
> 317-298-6570 x106 / 800-733-1899 (IN only) / fax: 317-328-2380  
> whitakerb at mcls.org / www.mcls.org / scion.incolsa.net
>   
>
>
> Nicole Engard wrote:
>> Hi all,
>>
>> Got a question today that I never thought about before ... but it's a
>> good one -- Where do patron barcodes come from?  How do they know
>> where to start? And how do they know how to increment?
>>
>> The answer will of course go in the manual for others to learn from.
>>
>> Thanks
>> Nicole
>> _______________________________________________
>> Koha mailing list
>> Koha at lists.katipo.co.nz
>> http://lists.katipo.co.nz/mailman/listinfo/koha
>>   
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