When a new member joins a library, a membership card is issued which has a barcode printed on it. Every book in the library also has a barcode printed inside it. When a member takes a book out on loan, the barcode of the book is read by a barcode reader. So too is the barcode on the member's card. Together with the date, this makes up a transaction. Input: book's and member's barcode, date, librarian's name, etc. This transaction is then stored in the library's database. N.B. Barcodes contain a check digit which is used for automatic validation by the barcode reader.
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