This summer, the university library barcoded nearly 3.5 million volumes
in its 40 branch library collections. The work was done in preparation for
its new online catalog system scheduled to go into operation in May. According
to Betsy Kruger, head of central circulation and bookstacks at the library,
the project employed over 120 students, including Bill Alvey (standing),
a graduate student in art history, and Andrew Bawden, a junior in vocal
performance.
The barcoding will increase the accuracy of circulation transactions and
help speed up the process. Also it will increase the effectiveness of tracking
library materials across the UIUC library system as well as among academic
libraries throughout the state. More frequent inventories of the library's
extensive collection will be made easier and more accurate.
Barcoding will continue this fall in the main library bookstacks and in
the Asian and newspaper libraries.
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