Anyone knowledgeable about bar code scanners? I want to scan all my books and put them in a

[seaglass]

spreadsheet or database so I can keep track of them.

I'm not sure what is contained in a book bar code but I assume at minimum the ISBN, Author and Title.

Have you done this or something like it?

It looks like handheld bar code scanners are not too expensive. I know there are bar code scanner apps but I don't know how I would get the info from a phone into my pc.

[madinmaryland]

1. Basically a barcode scanner will read the numbers listed above or below

the bar code. The number is essentially meaningless, unless you have a link to the database that will give meaning to that number. That means you will need to buy new software which will include the database that you are referring to.

I spent much of the spring scanning barcodes on computer equipment being installed and it only recorded the actual number (which was the serial number and model number of the equipment.)

[seaglass]

2. Thanks. It looks like that might work but not 100% of the time. The ISBN on 3 out of 4

books I just looked at is the number above the barcode. And there is an online database that lists books by ISBN.

So when you scanned barcodes - you were able to store in some type of db or xls? And that's what you are saying I would have to buy some type of software to get the ISBNs into my PC?

[rug]

3. Are they running around?

[Shagbark Hickory]

4. What do you need a barcode scanner for? Why not just type in the ISBN into a spreadsheet?

What? Have you got *that many* books?

[seaglass]

6. Yeah, I do have a lot - hundreds - I don't even know. They are the one item

I collect. I have bookcases in 4 rooms plus boxes in the attic with books and I just want to keep track of them and hopefully prevent myself from buying books I already have.

[Sisaruus]

5. try www.librarything.com

They have book scanners and you can catalog your books on line. I do it with the ISBN numbers.
http://www.librarything.com/more/store

I'm at www.librarything.com/profile/sisaruus

[seaglass]

7. Wow - thank you - that is great! I'm off to read about it. You made my day :-) n/t