Issuing text books

[Seb1780]

Not strictly a technical question, more a "how do you do it in real life".

 

We're having to move from our bespoke, Access-based database for issuing textbooks to a new solution. When I have looked around to see what's available the one key thing that stands out is that in all cases the books are numbered *before* being issued. Our current system works by the teacher re-numbering each text book at the point of issue using pre-printed barcode labels. We do things this way because "it minimises the disruption in the classroom and minimises transcription errors whilst being manageable for the teacher". All suggestions that teachers should, at the point of issue, record a predetermined book number have thus far been met with a negative response; yet this is the only way most off-the-shelf solutions will work, including our existing library system.

 

So, my question is how does your school physically hand out and record loans of textbooks? I'm interested in the mechanics of who does what and how the information is captured. I'm not, at this point, concerned about which system you use to record the information *unless* that has a bearing on how you do things.

 

Thanks

[elsiegee40]

All the schools I've been at have numbered the books and the number has been recorded against the pupil on paper, in a register, in a spreadsheet...