The school where you volunteer received a donation of 600 books and the teacher lends them by writing in a notebook. At the end of term 40 are missing and nobody knows who took them, when, or in what condition.
How to use Library Barcodes step by step
1. Number your copies and members
One accession number per book (with a prefix, for example B-0001) and another per member (M-0001), one per line.
2. Pick the format your system reads
CODE-128 works in most programs; if your system asks for Codabar, use the A-D start and stop letters.
3. Print and stick on the back cover
Download the PDF, print on adhesive paper and stick each label in the same place on every book.
The Step Count: Traditional Friction vs. KorexTools
Tracking loans with a notebook and a printed list (4 failures)
- Handwrite name, date and title for every loan.
- Forget to log returns on busy days.
- Lose the control sheet or fail to read the handwriting.
- Discover the losses only when counting at year-end.
With Library Barcodes on KorexTools (3 steps)
- Number books and members, one per line.
- Pick the format and check the preview.
- Print the PDF and stick labels on back covers and cards.
Setting up a school or neighbourhood library with barcodes without spending on software
A small library runs well on three things: a label for every copy, a card for every member and a list linking both. Loans are recorded by scanning the member card first and then the book; returns by scanning only the book. You do not need the ISBN for this: an ISBN identifies the edition, not the copy, and if you own three copies of one title you need three different accession numbers.
The tool generates labels from the list of numbers you paste, with CODE-128 by default and Codabar available for older library systems that ask for it. You can add a title (for example the library’s name) and download the PDF to print on adhesive paper. Labels are processed in your browser, so the catalogue and the member list stay on your device.
How to organise accession numbers
- •Use different prefixes for books, members and special materials (B-, M-, S-).
- •Assign one number per copy, not per title, and never reuse it if a book is withdrawn.
- •Stick the label in the same place every time so the scanner operator never has to hunt.
Barcode records against a notebook
| Aspect | With barcodes | Notebook or index card |
|---|---|---|
| Loan speed | Seconds with a scanner | Minutes per member |
| Annual stocktake | Quick with scanning | Long and error-prone |
| Lost books | Spotted from the list | Hard to trace |
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- ⚠️Reusing the number of a withdrawn book for another title.
- ⚠️Sticking the label on the spine, where it wears off, instead of the back cover.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the book’s ISBN as the code?
It is not ideal: the ISBN is the same for every copy of a title and does not tell the copy you lent. Generate your own accession number for each copy.
How does the system tell a book from a member?
With different prefixes in the number (for example B- for books and M- for members) or separate numeric ranges. Your library program has to interpret them.
When do I use Codabar instead of CODE-128?
Only if your legacy system or scanners ask for it. For new libraries, CODE-128 is more flexible and accepts letters.
What I would do if I were in your shoes
«Number copies from day one with a clear prefix and never reuse a number: that way any list from your library is trustworthy five years from now.» — DataKorex Engineering Team.