Barcode Scanners and Smartphones

Scanning Patron Cards from Smartphones

To scan patron library cards from smartphones, a CCD or Linear Imager scanner is required. Laser scanners are not able to read barcodes from backlit screens, like those on smartphones.

NOBLE has tested Datalogic Gryphon and Quickscan 1D Linear Imagers and has found them to work well reading both smartphone screens and printed book and patron barcodes.

You will need to change some settings on these scanners in order to read the Codabar barcodes on your books and library cards. Use the cheat sheets below for basic programming. Note that the scanner can read the codes directly off your computer screen.

Gryphon Cheat Sheet

Quickscan Cheat Sheet

More options can be found in the using the barcodes in the Programming Manuals available for the products.

Below is some general information describing the types of barcode scanners available:

  • Laser Scanner – Reads barcodes using reflected laser light produced by the scanner. Lasers cannot read from backlit screens. Laser scanners produce a sharp horizontal beam of light.
  • CCD (Charge Coupled Device) Scanner – Reads barcodes using light already present in the environment, including that produced by a backlit screen. CCD scanners produce a diffuse glow.
  • Linear Imager – a CCD device capable of reading a one dimensional (linear) barcode from a printed label or backlit screen. Library book and patron barcodes are one dimensional.
  • Area Imager – a CCD device capable of reading one dimensional or two dimensional codes from a printed label or backlit screen. A QR code is an example of a two dimensional code.