barcode scanner

What software can I use with a barcode scanner for our event's registration procedures? My org will hold its annual convention this coming March. We want to take advantage of the bar codes found in students' IDs for faster registration procedures. We're planning to borrow barcode scanners from our school's IT dept, but they might be unwilling to let us use their software for security purposes, and also licensing purposes. What software can my org use that would be easy to use, complex enough for registration, but not too complex that we won't be able to understand how it works. Thanks!
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