Stock Check

iMLS now offers the ability to 'check' resources into a live Stock Check directly from your mobile device. This makes it possible to walk around the library with a smart phone or tablet and scan the resource barcode using the camera, rather than bringing the books to the desk where a wired barcode scanner is attached. It is also possible to type the barcode number in directly on the device.

If there are a large number of resources in a stock check then this may not offer much of an advantage as using the camera on a smart phone or tablet may be slightly time consuming and may drain the battery rather quickly. When coupled with a bluetooth barcode scanner (Opticon OPN 2005, supplied and sold separately by MLS) the time the task takes will be greatly reduced so these devices, although optional, are highly recommended. If you are using an Opticon OPN 2005 device, this will need to be paired with the smart phone before following the instructions in this guide. Click here for information about pairing this Bluetooth device with your phone.

Note that the ability to access Stock Check is controlled by the group that the user logged in to iMLS belongs to. If the user has the permission to access "Stock Check" in their security group then it will be available when logged in to iMLS.

The steps in this topic explain how to use Stock Check.

·Log in to iMLS as a user who has permissions to access Stock Check.

·Once logged in, using the left menu scroll down and tap Stock Check.

·The next screen that follows, displays a list of all created stock checks. It is important to know that stock checks cannot be created through iMLS, it is necessary to create them from the desktop version beforehand. See the appropriate topics regarding Stock Check for details about how to do this.

Any stock checks that have not been completed will display in the menu. Tap the desired stock check to begin checking in resources in that stock check.

·The next screen is the area that you are able to start checking in items. A list of items that have already been checked in will display under the checked items area for reference. There are a few different ways that you can check items in, described below.

Method		Steps

Typing the barcode		Typing the barcode in can be useful when there is a barcode that will not scan, perhaps because it is damaged. It would take a long time to type in every book number when performing a stock check and it is advised to use a bluetooth one supplied by MLS or another method. 1.Type the barcode of the resource in to the text box faintly labelled Resource Barcode. 2.Press the return button and the resource will be added to the Checked items list. Note that the barcode masks are not applied when typing the number in. This means that you may find occasions where a number slightly different to one printed on the label needs to be typed. For instance, 001870 instead of 1870 or vice versa. This of course all depends on how the barcodes are printed and catalogued.

Using the Camera		1.To scan an item using the devices camera tap the small image of the barcode in the top right hand corner. 2.Focus on the barcode using the devices camera.

Using a Bluetooth attached scanner		When the Bluetooth scanner has been paired with the mobile device, simply scan the barcode using the device to add the resource to the checked items list. Depending on the Stock Check Settings for this in iMLS, the scanner can be set up to beep or vibrate when a book has been recognised and checked in. This alerts you without having to check the app each time a resource barcode is scanned. The OPN 2005 is a Bluetooth device so bear in mind that it needs to remain at a relatively close distance to the phone that it is paired with. In addition, if the screen on your mobile device is left long enough for it to lock (assuming this setting is enabled on your device) the app will not continue to function. When there is an interaction with the Bluetooth scanner it immediately tries to update iMLS but if the screen locks this will not function.

Though you can use the iMLS app to scan items into your Stock Check, MLS strongly recommend that you frequently check this Stock Check through the desktop version to ensure that your data reflects the resources you have scanned.S

·Resources can be scanned as many times as necessary and they will be checked in to the Stock Check. Note that there is no need to save the Stock Check in iMLS so that it shows on the desktop version, although if you are using both then the desktop version may need to be closed and re-opened before the items checked in using iMLS show up.

When the resources have been scanned into the Stock Check, if you are ready to you can then complete the Stock Check through the desktop app. It is not possible to do so through iMLS but click here for more information about how to do so in the desktop version.