Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for scanning barcodes. The apparatus includes a scanning device and a holding device for a flat object and the barcode is positioned on the flat object. The holding device is mounted on a movable carriage capable of movement along the X and the Y axes which includes separate carriages movable along the X axis and the Y axis respectively. The scanning device is fixed in a stationary position relative to the movable carriage. In addition to the carriages movable along the X and Y axes, there is also a carriage movable along the Z axis which does not move during the scanning process. A preferred variation of the invention uses a flat object having a central hole around which a circular barcode is concentrically positioned. The holding device is movable in such a way that the circular barcode is made to follow a circular path over the scanning device.