Discusses the evolution of standards for bar codes (series of printed lines and spaces that represent numbers, symbols, and/or letters of alphabet) and describes the two types most frequently adopted by libraries--Code-A-Bar and CODE 39. Format of the codes is illustrated. Six references and definitions of terminology are appended. (EJS)

Discusses optical character recognition (OCR) for use with MS-DOS microcomputers. Cost effectiveness is considered, three types of software approaches to character recognition are explained, hardware and operation requirements are described, possible library applications are discussed, future OCR developments are suggested, and a list of OCR…

Describes a breakthrough in omni-font optical character recognition (OCR) that will permit economical automation of library catalogs and other library processes within the next few years. (RAA)

Planned and organized by the National Agricultural Library (NAL), the conference was designed to bring together people involved in scanning projects and to evaluate the feasibility of using hand-held scanning devices for transcribing bibliographic information during the cataloging and indexing processes. Ten previously unpublished papers and a…

This publication describes the planning and implementation of an optical character recognition (OCR) labeling project, the first stage of Kansas State University (KSU) Libraries' program of conversion from a manual to an automated circulation system. It is noted that a telephone survey of libraries with automated circulation systems and…

Presents results of survey of procedures to handle the circulation of unbound periodicals in 232 public and academic libraries using four major turnkey automated circulation systems. Methods used are described (use of machine-readable symbol attached to issue) and procedures developed at the Eastern Washington University Library are explained in…

Describes the development of the Online Contents Service at Tilburg University (Netherlands) that provides users with desktop microcomputer access to the contents of journals held at the university. The rationale, procedures, retrieval software, subject search capability, and future developments are discussed. (five references) (EA)