Service number 03
Retro-conversion, Barcoding and RFID
Older collections often hold real value behind unusable access. We convert card catalogues, accession registers and spreadsheet lists into machine-readable records, tag the physical stock, and finish with a verified count you can actually rely on.
| Tagging | Barcode (Code 39, Code 128) or RFID (ISO 15693 / 18000-3) |
|---|---|
| Working mode | Section-by-section; the library stays open |
| Verification | 100 percent item scan, not sampling |
| Output | Converted records, tag map, verification report |
Section 01
What you receive.
- Machine-readable records converted from cards, registers or spreadsheets
- Barcode or RFID tags applied, linked and verified item by item
- Stock verification report with traced, missing and withdrawn categories
- Shelf-order correction and spine label replacement where required
- Handover file reconciling physical stock against the catalogue
Section 02
How the work runs.
- Sample the existing records to size the work and set conversion rules
- Convert in batches, section by section, keeping the library usable
- Tag, link and verify each item against its record
- Run a full verification pass and classify every discrepancy
- Reconcile, correct shelf order, and hand over the final position
Section 03
Who this is for.
- Libraries still working from card catalogues or accession registers
- Institutions moving to self-issue or gate security
- Libraries that have never completed a full stock verification
Section 04
Questions we are usually asked.
- Does the library have to close?
- No. We work section by section and return each section to circulation before starting the next, so reading rooms and issue counters stay open throughout.
- What counts as a missing item?
- An item recorded in the catalogue that is not found on the shelf, in circulation, in binding, or in any traced internal location after the full pass. Every such item is listed individually rather than summarised as a number.
Section 05
Enquire about retro-conversion, barcoding and rfid.
Tell us the size of the collection, the systems already in use, and the deadline you are working to. That is enough for a useful first reply.