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Barcode readers

Muse

Lifer
I'm on a technical committee at an essentially all volunteer college radio station and we are looking to computerize our vast library of music recordings. The project is ambitious and complex and one aspect is barcode identification of items - CDs, LPs, 7 inch vinyl, etc. We figure we will need our own color-coded barcode stickers (e.g. yellow so we can find them quickly) for the items and a convenient barcode reader in the air studio and portable barcode readers probably attachable to devices in the library itself (possibly laptops, at least optionally).

Where can we start researching our options? Of course, we don't have much money, so we need a cost effective solution. I could do a Google search but I thought I'd start here. Thanks for any leads, suggestions, help. etc.
 
A while back, there were these things called Cue Cats. I can't seem to find them anymore but when they were out, they were really cheap. You could buy one at RadioShack and they would give you 3 for free or something like that 😱 Maybe you can try the FS/FT and see if anyone has an extra one lying around. Hope this helps. 🙂
 
Barcode readers are pretty simple devices. I'd start with something along the lines of the Symbol Laser Touch scanner, it's a nice hand-held unit that costs a couple hundred. You can print the barcode labels on laser stock in any laser printer.
 
You may have to special-order the labels, if you need them color-coded. Here is a basic program that should do what you want it to do.. As far as the readers, I use Symbol LS4000's I got on Ebay, @ ~ $80.00ea.. GREAT guns, very accurate and easy to use.
 
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