Library Applications
Why RFID for Libraries?
Why use RFID technology to identify items in the library collection? Schnell lists the following advantages of RFID over barcodes:- Line of sight is not required to read the RFID tag, and it does not needto be visible or properly aligned to be read successfully.
- RFID tags can be applied anywhere on materials.
- Several tags can be read at one time, so a small stack of materials can be read at once.
- RFID tags are more tamper resistant than bar codes.
- Antiftheft capabilities can be built into the tag, providing both material identification and security.
Circulation management
The application of RFID tags to library items may be thought as somewhat analogous to the application of barcodes that is common practice in many contemporary libraries. Barcodes encode a unique number and are affixed to an object. Optical scanners use an infrared ray or laser beam to detect the information encoded, and then transmit these signals from scanner to computer.An RFID system employs a specific radio frequency to transmit information to one or more tags within its range. The simplest RFID tag only processes a one-bit control status. The function is similar to the electromagnetic strip that was used to provide signals to allow the use of security gates in preventing articles leaving the library that had not been checked out.
The basic system for the library has a reader or interrogator that sends a radio signal to the tag in the library item. The tag consists of a microchip that stores a unique identifier and other information and an antenna to facilitate communication with the reader. An entire library RFID system may also use the following components:
- Circulation stations
- Staff processing stations
- Shelf management readers or wands
- Theft deterrence gates
- Self-checkout stations
- Return drops
- Sorting stations
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| A shelf management reader or wand. (Note the close proximity required to read near-field tags) |
Some libraries may elect to make only some of these pieces of equipment however staff processing stations and some sort of checkout station either self-serve or staff processed are required at the minimum.
Additional roles
The principal role of the RFID system is to facilitate circulation of items although there are some other possible roles:Usage statistics for periodicals could be obtained through the monitoring of periodicals on their rack via RFID. Shien-Chiang Yu suggests that patrons carrying RFID library cards might be guided through the library using their position in the library as a trigger for certain information to be provided to them, perhaps through the use of handheld equipment.
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| An RFID item sorter at the Seattle Public Library |
Prepared for LIBR 500: : Foundations of Information Technology
November 9, 2007