CMS,

 

I want to try the barcodes in order to better, accurately and quickly record and retrieve data. Anything that reduces a cumbersome process and lessens the probability of error is among those considerations for all my museum work. This is of utmost importance when you have more than one person working on the collections. I still haven't worked out the logistics, but I am going to give it a try.

 

As far as having some objects with barcodes on them and others on the file folders, I am not going to quite do that. It will be both. There's no getting around having duplicate files, x-tra copies of documentation and back-up files on CD's, etc. And even having portions of that data in other forms for different uses.

 

It's funny that we also think of computers making processes less cumbersome. etc., and they do but it doesn't eliminate are need for documentation, it increases it. As I gather from others on the list, we take great care of our documentation, huh? Gone are the days when you only have one copy of a document and, if it's gone it's lost forever! Not going to happen nowadays!

 

As far as the barcodes and the protectors - it is not one or the other, the protectors (clear) go over the labels to protect the barcode. As far as the adhesive - I simply do not see any issue with placing these labels on the back cover of a book, the back of a reproduced photo, the underside of a chair, a proper placement of a barcode label on the bottom of an aluminum pitcher (not covering the maker's mark), the inside cover of a footlocker, a grindstone...just to name a few objects I am contending with. For other objects, the labels can go on tags and on enclosures, and even in the object (i.e., a jar as someone else on the list has done). If I am missing an issue regarding the adhesive on objects such as these, I (am not being facetious at all) please bring it to my attention.

 

For costs...the barcoding software (PastPerfect) is $63.20. I can by a WASP brand barcode scanner at Staples for $165. And then the cost of labels and protectors. Besides my time/labor...not a large amount of $$$$ by far.

 

If I wanted to go state of the art...that's not what I am prepared to do. And I have to be careful, I noticed that some scanners require a separate decoder, which is costly.

 

But if I am forgetting anything here too -please bring it to my attention. I will certainly report back to the list once I get everything up and running (even if it's grumbling, I'll let you know!).

 

Pam

 

 

 

 

 

In a message dated 8/22/2005 5:12:12 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes: