Making the Most of RFID in Libraries

by Martin Palmer

Overview

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) has had a rapid impact on the library world. Its advantage over other technologies used in libraries is usually seen to be its ability to combine the functions of the barcode and the security tag, but with the added advantages of being able to read multiple items seemingly simultaneously without need of line of sight. The customer-friendly self-service that this combination of features makes possible is at the heart of the attraction of RFID for most libraries.
This practical and straightforward book is designed to help library managers decide whether RFID has anything to offer them and – if so – how to make the most of the benefits while coping with the challenges inherent in this rapidly developing technology. It also offers many further sources of information to follow up. Applicable to all types of libraries, its contents include:

• RFID, libraries and the wider world
• RFID in libraries: the background and the basics
• RFID, library applications and the library management system
• standards and interoperability
• privacy
• RFID and health and safety
• RFID and library design
• building a business case for RFID in libraries, and requesting proposals
• staffing: savings, redeployment or something else?
• buying a system: evaluating the offers
• installing RFID: project management
• making the most of RFID: a case study
• RFID, libraries and the future.

Readership: RFID has the potential to revolutionize many aspects of library service delivery. Written by an expert in the field, this book is a very worthwhile investment for all those library professionals considering converting to RFID for their libraries, as well as those who are implementing it already.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781856048712
Publisher:	Facet Publishing
Publication date:	03/20/2009
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	192
File size:	417 KB

About the Author

Martin Palmer BA MBA MCLIP MCMI is Principal Officer: Libraries for Essex County Council. He is Chair both of the BIC/CILIP RFID in Libraries Group, and of BIC’s E4Libraries Steering Committee.

Table of Contents

Preface

• Introduction
• Terminology: a note about ‘customers’
• Acknowledgements

1. RFID, libraries and the wider world

• Why RFID and libraries?
• RFID – the technology: a brief history
• RFID – the technology: frequencies
• RFID – the technology: process
• RFID – a disruptive technology . . . ?
• RFID and the wider world – some existing applications
• Disrupted libraries?
• RFID and libraries – a brief summary of the main applications
• Summary

2. RFID and libraries: the background and the basics

• The early days
• RFID in libraries – how it works: the basics
• Audiovisual material – a problem area . . .
• Another complicated area – multipart items
• Summary

3. RFID, library applications and the library management system

• RFID and the LMS – why do you need both?
• The changing market for LMS
• SIP
• SIP or NCIP?
• Back-up: is offline service the same as online?
• Self-payment
• Staff processes
• Contents
• Self-service and the LMS – some other complications
• RFID and stock control
• Acquisitions
• Navigating the library
• Summary

4. Standards and interoperability

• Standards, or free for all?
• Interoperability – is it really needed?
• It’s not just about interoperability . . .
• What standards are there?
• Licence plate or full data?
• ISO 28560 – towards a standard library data model
• The AFI (Application Family Identifier)
• The DSFID
• Summary

5. Privacy

• Interoperability and privacy
• RFID opponents
• Hotlisting and tracking
• RFID and (some) religious groups
• RFID and hacking
• RFID and legal limitations
• Encrypted tags?
• RFID and privacy – a continuing debate
• Summary

6 .RFID and health and safety

• RFID – what are the safety concerns?
• RFID and health and safety law
• Which standards?
• RFID and medical devices?
• RFID and health and safety – the plus side?
• RFID and health and safety – the future?
• Summary

7. RFID and library design

• The changing role of library buildings
• The impact of computerization
• What’s this got to do with RFID?
• Library layout
• Library furniture
• Security and building supervision
• External aspects
• Summary

8. Building a business case for RFID in libraries, and requesting proposals

• Risk and reward
• Rationale
• Implementing RFID – the benefits
• Preparing a request for proposal (RFP)
• Summary

9. Staffing: savings, redeployment or something else?

• RFID and staffing efficiencies
• How much work is being saved?
• Summary

10. Buying a system: evaluating the offers

• Range of suppliers/range of responses
• Why systematic evaluation is important
• How to evaluate systematically
• Summary

11. Installing RFID: project management

• Project management
• Risk management
• The main tasks
• The first day live
• Review and follow-up
• Summary

12. Making the most of RFID: a case study

• In the beginning . . .
• Searching for a solution
• Looking for a supplier
• Branding, guiding and layout
• Staff roles
• Next stages
• The roll-out
• The outcome
• How important is RFID to this case study?
• Summary

13. RFID, libraries and the future

• New and developing uses for RFID
• Developing tag technology
• Conclusion
• Further information
• Websites
• Forums
• Blogs
• Library RFID system suppliers