Newsgroups: bit.listserv.innopac
Date:         Wed, 26 Aug 1992 16:24:09 -0400
              <INNOPAC@MAINE.BITNET>
From:         Ron Ryan <rxr3@PO.CWRU.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Magstripes and IDs
X-To:         "III Online Public Access Catalog Discussion List"
              <INNOPAC%MAINE.BitNet@pucc.PRINCETON.EDU>

>We are interested in knowing if other libraries are using ID magstripes
>in lieu of barcodes for patron IDs.  Our institution has a university-
>wide ID system. We feel that there are advantages to using the registrar's
>database as a source of our patron information and in tying-in with the rest
>of the university.  For those of you using magstripes, could you please
>provide me with the following information?
>    a) What brand magstripe readers do you use?
>       Do you find that using both magstripe and barcode readers is
>         too cumbersome?
>    b) What problems have occurred in the development and implementation
>       of the patron database in relation to the magstripe?
>    c) How do you handle "special" or "affiliate" borrowers who do not
>       already have a library or university ID?
>    d) Any other suggestions or warnings?????
>
>Thanks for your time.

        Here at Case Western Reserve University, we use magstripes for
patron Identification and barcodes for materials. So far it is working
quite well. We evaluated 3 different manufacturers offerings and settled on
an all-in-one combination of CCD barcode reader/attached magstripe reader
from TPS Electronics. The patron record call-up is a one hand operation
after which the ID can be handed back before the books are scanned. InnoPAC
is extremely versitile in that it can identify patrons by either the
magstripe or the barcode, or both! In some cases, during our transition
where the ID's still have both on them many patrons have both attached to
their records. Special borrowers are given temporary cards with barcodes
manually attached and the system accepts them without problem. It has been
beneficial in other areas as well. Our Medical Libraries have discovered
that the system will accept the ID card magstripe of the local hospitals.
We've even attached VISA and MasterCard identification swipes.

Suggestions or warnings:
        We really shied away from units where the magstripe reader hung off
the main unit by a cable, unless you want to run the Rubber Cement / Velcro
gauntlet. This was one of the reasons we went with the TPS UniScan.
        The only real problem that has surfaced is in setting up the
InnoPAC "Request this Item" function. One of the questions the function
asks is for the patron to enter their ID number. It's the old problem of
'What good is a record without a record player?' since the patron doesn't
know what the magstripe contains. I believe we are going to solve it by
having our administration write their student output program to just add
the patron's social security number as another entry in the barcode index.
I'm sure there's a limit to the number of numbers you can ID a patron with
but so far, it hasn't been low enough to be a problem.

Ronald S. Ryan (rxr3@po.cwru.edu)       | "A society far enough ad-
Head of Integrated Library Systems      | vanced technologically is
Library Information Technologies Dept.  | indistinguishable from
Case Western Reserve University         | magic." -Arthur C. Clarke