The strategies below have proven to be successful at various INFOhio-automated schools. The strategy you employ depends on several factors, such as the amount of time and help available and the deadline to complete your migration project. INFOhio recommends you maintain close contact with your ITC provider, someone who has helped many schools accomplish re-barcoding.

Re-barcoding strategies | Gradual approach | Other suggestions | Related information

Re-barcode and be done with it strategies

	Use student library assistants, parents or other groups to re-barcode. Consider the adage, With pizza all things are possible.
	Investigate senior citizen groups in your community to help. Many are looking for service projects that directly benefit students.
	Use district library staff to re-barcode each library in turn. The group effort will speed the effort, and each library will get easier as the team's expertise grows. Like the pioneers' quilting and husking bees, make it a Barcoding Bee!

The gradual approach to re-barcoding strategies

	Ignore the drive for perfection! Every item doesn't have to be re-barcoded before the new system is operational. Focus on the most circulated sections of your library and have them ready on your go-live day. Barcode other items as they circulate and as time permits. Your ITC provider can help you by using a utility program to mass-change old barcode ids in the system  to new INFOhio barcodes and can print out new smart barcode labels for you to apply to the changed items allowing you to work on a section at a time.
	Add re-barcoding to other routine tasks, such as section weeding and regular inventories.
	Re-barcode at check-out. ITC providers print smart barcodes (those with call numbers, authors, titles, as well as barcode numbers) in shelflist order; as an item circulates, flip to the right barcode, peel and stick.
	Re-barcode at check-in. Before items are re-shelved, make sure each has its proper barcode for the new system. This focuses efforts on the popular materials.

Other suggestions

	Involve your ITC provider in your re-barcoding project. He/She may be able to be on site, another set of hands to make the job go faster, and can provide on-site technical help, if needed.
	Early on, ask your ITC provider if the old barcode number can be incorporated into the new 14-digit number. Along with the item's title, this procedure helps to ensure that the exact barcode is applied to the exact item.

Related information - INFOhio Barcode Standards