RFID in Libraries: Standards and Expanding Use

Welcome & System Overview

Introduction

ISO Standard on RFID in Libraries

In 2008, knowing that an international standard was still a couple years off, a NISO working group developed a recommended practice on RFID in U.S. Libraries (NISO RP6-2008). Experiences using this recommended practice in the U.S. will be discussed as well as plans for updating the document to align it with the forthcoming international standard.

U.S. Implementation of RFID in Libraries

Existing RFID standards define technical aspects of the tag and the air interface but what is still needed to ensure interoperability in a library environment is a standard that specifies what data needs to be on the tag and how it is formatted and encoded. The ISO standard on RFID in Libraries (ISO/DIS 28560) is nearing its final stage of approval. This three-part standard specifies a data model for the use of RFID tags for items appropriate for the needs of all types of libraries, including academic, public, corporate, special and school, and defines two different encodings that can be used.

Case Study of RFID Library Implementation

When implementing RFID in a library environment, there are certainly the typical issues of transitioning to a new technology and interoperability with current systems. But RFID implementations also encounter other "cultural" issues such as privacy concerns and the move to a more self-service type of model for library patrons. This case study will share the experiences of a library that was one of the earlier adopters of the RFID technology.

Q&A and Wrap-up