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A key for accessing an electronic lock that also has an optical scanner includes a user interface, first and second memories and a shared data transfer circuit. The first memory serves to store access data detailing identities of locks accessed by the key. The second memory stores data scanned by th

A key for accessing an electronic lock that also has an optical scanner includes a user interface, first and second memories and a shared data transfer circuit. The first memory serves to store access data detailing identities of locks accessed by the key. The second memory stores data scanned by the scanner. The access data and the scanned data can both be downloaded from the key via the shared data transfer circuit.

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1. An electronic key for accessing an electronic lock, the key comprising: a key case sized for holding in one hand; an optical scanner coupled to the key case and storable within the key case, the optical scanner comprising an optical scanning element connected to an optical scanning circuit,

1. An electronic key for accessing an electronic lock, the key comprising: a key case sized for holding in one hand; an optical scanner coupled to the key case and storable within the key case, the optical scanner comprising an optical scanning element connected to an optical scanning circuit, a user interface on the exterior of the key case that can receive user input for accessing locks and performing scanning operations; and a circuit housed within the key case and being connected to the user interface and the optical scanner, the circuit comprising: a first memory serving to store access data detailing identities of locks accessed by the key,a second memory serving to store data scanned by the optical scanner, anda shared data transfer circuit by which both the access data and the scanned data can be downloaded from the keys, wherein the key allows for single-handed scanning of optically readable media. 2. The key of claim 1, wherein the first and second memories comprise different storage elements within a shared memory circuit.3. The key of claim 1, wherein the shared data transfer circuit includes an infrared port through which data can be transmitted.4. The key of claim 1, wherein the shared data transfer circuit includes at least one contact on the key through which data can be transmitted from and received by the key when the key is connected by the contact to another device.5. The key of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a keypad.6. The key of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a display screen.7. The key of claim 1, wherein the optical scanner is a bar code reader configured to read bar codes.8. The key of claim 1, wherein the optical scanning element is positioned within the case adjacent a side thereof.9. The key of claim 8, wherein the case has the form of a generally rectangular solid, and wherein the optical scanning element is positioned adjacent a corner thereof.10. The key of claim 1, wherein the case includes a pivoting element, and wherein the optical scanning element is attached to the pivoting element, and the pivoting element being positionable in at least a first operative position pivoted outward from the case and a second storage position pivoted within the case.11. The key of claim 1, wherein the case has a scanner storage portion sized to receive the optical scanner.12. The key of claim 1, wherein the circuit further comprises a processor for carrying out access instructions relating to access of a secured area; scanning instructions relating to scanning of optically encoded information; storing instructions relating to storing access data detailing identities of locks accessed by the key in the first memory; storing instructions relating to storing data scanned by the optical scanner; and downloading instructions relating to the downloading of both the access data and the scanned data from the key. 13. A key for accessing an electronic lock, the key including a user interface and a memory, the memory serving to store access data detailing identities of locks accessed by the key, the key further including a button that is operable to switch the key from an access mode to an optical scanning mode. 14. The key of claim 13 in which the user interface includes at least one button whose functionality is changed by switching the key form the access mode to the optical scanning mode.15. A method of using a hybrid electronic key and optical scanner device, comprising: using the hybrid device to gain access to a locked door at a site; logging access data within the hybrid device, the access data indicating the identity of the site; delivering one or more articles to the site; scanning optical data on the articles using the hybrid device; logging the scanned optical data within the hybrid device; and later downloading both the access data and the scanned optical data from the hybrid device to at least one database. 16. An access and scanning system, comprising: an electronic key for accessing an electronic lock, the key comprising: a key case sized for holding in one hand,a optical scanner coupled to the key case and storable within the key case, the optical scanner comprising an optical scanning element connected to an optical scanning circuit,a user interface on the exterior of the key case that can receive user input for accessing locks and performing scanning operations. anda circuit housed within the key case and being connected to the user interface and the optical scanner, the circuit comprising:a first memory serving to store access data detailing identities of locks accessed by the key,a second memory serving to store data scanned by the optical scanner, anda shared data transfer circuit by which both the access data and the scanned data can be downloaded from the key, wherein the key allows for single-handed scanning of optically readable media; and a stand having a receiving portion within which the electronic key is engageable that makes an electrical connection with the data transfer circuit of the electronic key, the stand having a link to a remote computer over which data can be exchanged between the key and the remote computer, wherein when the key is engaged within the stand, the stored data in the key can be automatically uploaded to the remote computer over the link. 17. A general purpose personal digital assistant (PDA) programmed to additionally function as an electronic key for accessing an electronic lock, further comprising: an optical scanner element and an associated optical scanner circuit interconnected with a PDA circuit, the optical scanner circuit having a separate memory, the optical scanner element being positionable in a first storage position within the PDA and a second operating position coupled to the PDA for reading optically encoded information and storing the read information in the separate memory.