What is it?
- Radio Frequency Identification
- Tags stuck inside books electronically store information about the book (e.g. barcode).
- Information can be detected by a reader that's simply within a certain distance of the book (e.g. doesn't need to be scanned like a barcode) – multiple items can be checked out at the same time (reduces injuries and in combination with a self-checkout machine, reduces staff).
- Shelves can be inventoried with a sweep of a reader (reports which items are missing or misshelved).
- Can be used in combination with security systems (replaces security tags)
Concerns
- Privacy (Anyone with a compatible reader can track information about the book)
- See Wired Magazine's article on how easily hackers can wipe out library records: The RFID Hacking Underground
- Cost
- currently ~CDN$1/tag
- Boss (2003, cited in Ayre, The Galecia Group, 2004) provides estimates on hardware:
- Exit sensor $4,000
- Portable scanner $4,500
- Self-checkout unit $20,000
- Exit readers $4,000
- Installation and technical support is over and above this
Best Practices
Further Reading
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