Data capture devices and stock control in libraries: some recent trends

COMPUTERISATION of a library's circulation system should never be thought of as merely a highly mechanised loan system. Its potential lies in exercising full control over all stock movements, to binders, to branch or departmental libraries, as well as to borrowers. In addition, the collection and use of records of these stock movements can provide data to optimise the use of the bookstock and to give sophisticated aid to the provision of new and replacement stock. This process is similar to that already adopted by other stockholding institutions, such as automobile spare parts agencies or supermarkets. The library differs from these in its larger range of items and the re‐use of these items. The technical problems concerned with the collection and deployment of data about stock use are very similar.