Inventory Processes and Procedures

Minerva users have access to inventory functionality as described in section 102566 and subsequent pages of the online web manual. However, the process that is described assumes access to a proprietary barcode scanner and associated software only available from Innovative Interfaces Inc.

For a discussion of this process, as well as alternatives to it, search the Innovative Users Group archives. Also of potential interest is the Boreham (Arkansas) Library Inventory Manual, and Creative Uses of Inventory -- IUG 1999 Presentation.

Some limited local experimentation seems to indicate that it may be possible to conduct an inventory using equipment other than the specific barcode scanner recommended by Innovative. The key is creation of a file of barcodes, one per line, each preceded by "n:", followed by a carriage return/linefee, and with no extraneous characters on the line and no empty lines at the end of the text file. In theory, this file could be created through use of a barcode scanner, a laptop and a text editor. Search and replace could be used to insert the "n:" at the beginning of each line.

Minerva sites interested in doing an inventory are invited to Minerva support