Abstract: An omnidirectional optical system is arranged for scanning bar coded labels passing a rectangular scanning window with a plurality of interlaced scans in a plurality of differing directions whereby the labels are completely scanned irrespective of orientation. The interlaced and plural directive scanning rays are generated by directing a beam of light, from a laser or like light source, onto a rotating multi-faceted mirror for deflecting the light beam in a line extending in a given direction. A set of fixed mirrors is positioned to deflect the light beam in a number of laterally displaced scanning segments all parallel to the line extending in the given direction. A pair of fixed end mirrors are arranged for reflecting the light from half of the segments back onto the other half of the segments to provide the intersecting scanning pattern.