1. Inventory on a Shoestring J. David Bavousett System Administrator Abilene Library Consortium

2. A Few Disclaimers Im not Virginia or Jon…. Im not Virginia or Jon…. I dont do this in real life. Im a system admin who works for the Consortium. I dont do this in real life. Im a system admin who works for the Consortium. Some of this requires API. Some of this requires API. Your mileage may vary. Your mileage may vary.

3. Method 1: Wired Hook up a laptop or PC on a cart, with a long network wire, and haul it around the library Hook up a laptop or PC on a cart, with a long network wire, and haul it around the library Use the Inventory Item wizard Use the Inventory Item wizard After scanning a location or call range, run List Items for all items with an inventory date < your scan date. After scanning a location or call range, run List Items for all items with an inventory date < your scan date. It will tell you some useful things. It will tell you some useful things.

4. Method 1: DRAWBACKS Just how big is your library, anyway? Just how big is your library, anyway? Long cord can pose trip hazard Long cord can pose trip hazard Gives no help with items out of shelf order Gives no help with items out of shelf order Have to deal with items that check in or out during this process. Have to deal with items that check in or out during this process.

5. Method 1A: Same, only wireless Use a wireless laptop, but everything else is the same. Use a wireless laptop, but everything else is the same. Drawback of trip hazard goes away, but how long will your battery last? Drawback of trip hazard goes away, but how long will your battery last?

6. The Better Way: Scanner Scan in transactions using handheld PDA or scan wand, store one-scan-per-line in Notepad. Scan in transactions using handheld PDA or scan wand, store one-scan-per-line in Notepad. API: Upload notepad file to system, modify into an Inventory item transaction, and feed to API server API: Upload notepad file to system, modify into an Inventory item transaction, and feed to API server

7. The Better Way: Drawbacks Need an API geek in the library Need an API geek in the library Still doesnt help with mis-shelved items! Still doesnt help with mis-shelved items!

8. The Best Way Scan in barcodes with SirsiDynix purchased scanner, or if you have an API geek around, any scanner that can return one-barcode-per-line. Scan in barcodes with SirsiDynix purchased scanner, or if you have an API geek around, any scanner that can return one-barcode-per-line. Upload using the Scanner Transfer Utility. Upload using the Scanner Transfer Utility. (API) If you used a non-SirsiDynix scanner, you need to fix them to work (API) If you used a non-SirsiDynix scanner, you need to fix them to work

9. The Best Way, continued Run the Load Scanned Transactions report. It tells you whats missing, and whats out of order. Run the Load Scanned Transactions report. It tells you whats missing, and whats out of order. Run a List Items, looking for items not inventoried since before you ran inventory (and NEVER). Run a List Items, looking for items not inventoried since before you ran inventory (and NEVER).

10. The Best Way: ADVANTAGES Mis-shelved item information Mis-shelved item information More accurately handles checkin/checkout More accurately handles checkin/checkout No hauling a big ol laptop or PC around on a cart No hauling a big ol laptop or PC around on a cart

11. The Best Way is NOT Perfect! Substantial API knowledge is needed to make it go. You can hire that in, if you need it, but its not trivial. Substantial API knowledge is needed to make it go. You can hire that in, if you need it, but its not trivial. You never get rid of the need to manually wand all those barcodes, unless you go to RFID. You never get rid of the need to manually wand all those barcodes, unless you go to RFID.

12. New Directions RFID is not the be-all-end-all you might think; it will tell you what is on the wrong shelf group, but not if the item is out of order on the right shelf. RFID is not the be-all-end-all you might think; it will tell you what is on the wrong shelf group, but not if the item is out of order on the right shelf.

13. Sharing/Questions