setting up a new check out system

I am the Director for a Resource Center for our Churches and Seminary Students. We are seeking to purchase the equipment and software that will allow borrowers to scan their book out at the center with bar codes (which none of our books or media have at this point.
I am seeking the most basic help - suggestions for scanners, software for adding barcodes (or can LibraryThing do this).
We are very happy with how our users can do searches on LibraryThing, but the next step is to catch up our technology.
Has anyone started from the beginning to set up a system? Any help will be appreciated.