Hi everyone: So, along with everything else we're doing, we're setting up a barcode tracking system. My boss and I have different theories on how this should work, but we're agreed that there should be 2 to 3 levels of codes:
1) Storage compartment: in our case, the first shelf (1) in one of a number of flat files (FF1) in the rare books room (RBR) could be coded RBR FF1 1 (Code 39) 2) Container: a solanger box or folder containing a number of items - example, B1, B2 (for boxes), F1 (for folder), etc. short codes (Code 39) 3) Item level: a bar code for individual items. (probably currently Codabar format) Here is where our theories differ. A year or so ago, a bunch of (more or less) sequential bar code numbers were generated (ex. 0001250000, 0001260000), and applied to objects being moved offsite. Perhaps 150-200 objects were given these codes and they were designed to be temporary (the reasoning being that if a number fell off, you could just stick a different number on it). After doing some research, I learned about Code 39 and its ability to allow us to create a code for the existing accession numbers. I believe that it would be better to use Code 39 and make the Item Level numbers human readable, so that the code is merely a way for the machine to know immediately which accession number is where, rather than having to cross reference a string of numbers to an accession number. My boss is of the opinion that it's easier to print out a page of sequential numbers and randomly assign a number to an object and that it won't matter, because the database software (EMu) will understand it. I think this will be more of a headache in the long run, especially if a tag gets lost or you're looking at an object and wondering what it is, not to mention adding another number to an object which already has a number assigned to it. So I'm curious as to how your instituion deals with barcoding and inventories, particularly at the item-level. Would assigning random numbers be just as effective as using the accession number, especially given the potential time savings involved with not having to print out individual accession numbers? Thanks! Perian Sully Collection Database & Records Administrator Judah L. Magnes Museum 2911 Russell St. Berkeley, CA 94705 510-549-6950 x 335 You are currently subscribed to MCN-L, the listserv of the Museum Computer Network (www.mcn.edu). To post messages to this list, send emails to: [email protected] To unsubscribe from this list, please send an email to [email protected] with any message. If you are receiving messages as they are posted and wish to change to daily digest format, send an email to [email protected] with "SET mcn-l DIGEST" in the BODY of the message. If you are receiving messages in the daily digest format and wish to recieve them as they are posted, send an email to [email protected] with "SET mcn-l MAIL"
