OPAC Settings and Widgets
Other Features
Additional Information
OPAC Settings and Widgets
Other Features
Additional Information
The PINES app for Android and for iOS both display the patron's barcode so that it can be scanned at the library. PINES also allows patrons to present scannable electronic facsimiles of barcodes stored within specialized apps (such as Key Ring or CardStar, both of which are available for iPhone and Android) on hand-held devices in place of their physical library card. (Note: a photograph of a barcode is not sufficient.)
When a patron presents a barcode on a hand-held device, library staff will scan the barcode as if it were a physical card. Some libraries are using older barcode scanners that cannot read the barcode off of the device screen - in these cases, library staff will type in the barcode.
After retrieving the patron account, staff should ask the patron to verify their identity by confirming a piece of information on their account (such as name, phone number, email address, or date of birth).
PINES libraries have reported that the following barcode scanners will scan patron barcode numbers off of smartphones and other handheld devices with few issues:
PINES libraries have reported that the following barcode scanners will not reliably scan patron barcodes from handheld devices.
If you have any scanners to add to either of these lists, please email Terran McCanna (tmccanna@georgialibraries.org) with details.
Metrologic Barcode Scanner Issues
If your scanner is inserting a b in front of the barcode and trailing a d, then you will need to restore your scanner to its default properties.
Depending on the type of mobile device you are using, you may be able to install a virtual keyboard app that will allow you to make use of your device's camera to scan barcodes.
One example is the Barcode & QR Code Keyboard developed by Nikola Antonov (available for Android through the Google Play store). Once it is installed, follow the instructions to authorize it to run on your device. To switch back and forth between different virtual keyboards, you can do so in your device's settings, or you should be able to click in a field to display the keyboard and then pull down your notifications bar at the top to see a “Select keyboard” message that will allow you to switch.
Once the virtual keyboard is installed, you can click in any field on a web site to pull up the keyboard, then click on the barcode icon. This will launch the scanner - once it recognizes the item's barcode, it will enter the number into the field that you originally clicked on.