Major universities and public libraries have been using bar codes since the 1970's when they began replacing punch cards with bar coded loyalty cards to identify customer accounts. Today, libraries have dramatically expanded the use of bar codes from account identification to managing their complete inventory system to properly track books and other items through circulation. Without this technology, it would be nearly impossible to offer customers the extensive amount of items available for checkout today.
In fact, library management systems are so acquainted with bar codes that they have even developed standard labeling processes to gain additional benefits. For instance, libraries typically assign a unique (encoded) number to each item in circulation, which is linked to a database and bibliographic record. This allows employees to easily track the item and view its location at all times. Typically, ‘generic labels' are used to for small databases (i.e. less than 10,000 records) or for public libraries with multiple copies and non-specific call numbers.
‘Smarter labeling' can be applied for additional cost and time saving benefits. This labeling occurs prior to the item entering circulation, where it is pre-assigned an International Standard Book Number (ISBN), a unique numeric commercial book identifier, by machine and automatically linked to a database to avoid all manual assigning tasks. Smart labeling includes details such as the shelving arrangement and more for efficiency purposes. This system is recommended for most academic and niche libraries, where collections have specific call numbers and / or the library only has only a single copy of most titles.

	Customer Accounts & Loyalty Programs Loyalty programs are an important customer marketing tool libraries can utilize to add more customer services and potentially increase profits. By associating customer accounts with a unique bar coded loyalty card, libraries can easily track items and use the data to send customers late fees or special marketing offers. Once an account and loyalty card is created, the library will be able to scan the bar code to open the account for faster checkout activities.
	Asset Management Libraries also offer other services aside from checkout materials including the ability to rent computers, meeting rooms and other assets. Without bar code data capture, a lot of time can be spent figuring out the location and / or status of materials, rooms or anything else that moves within the library facility. Bar code readers can dramatically improve the tracking of assets as well as staff productivity, allowing the staff to respond quickly to inquiries and changes for optimum use.
	Inventory Management Bar code readers and/or mobile computers are critical components to any cost-saving inventory management system within libraries. By using ISBN numbers encoded in bar codes or other library codes to track books, music, magazines and more, libraries can easily manage a reliable and accurate database as well as update their system with an item's availability. The collected data can be uploaded to a central computer system in batches or in real time. This allows for better forecasting, reducing the chance of stock-outs, overstocks, and emergency shipments to enhance customer service.