RFID in the Library Context: Integration, Interoperability, and Business Environment

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RFID in the Library Context Integration,
Interoperability, and Business Environment
Marshall Breeding Director for Innovative
Technology and Research Vanderbilt University
Library Founder and Publisher, Library Technology
Guides http//www.librarytechnology.org/ http//tw
itter.com/mbreeding

• 77th IFLA General Conference and Assembly 

17 Aug 2011
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Summary

• Many aspects of technology supporting the
  automation of libraries are changing rapidly.
  Service-oriented architecture, Web-based
  computing, increased integration of social
  networking concepts, as well as cloud computing
  such as software-as-a-service characterize this
  emerging landscape. Products and services making
  use of RFID technology have to exist in an
  automation ecosystem increasingly reshaped by
  these technologies. Breeding will present a view
  of how RFID and related technologies fit into
  this evolving environment, some of the challenges
  involved such as the need for more modern
  protocols for interoperability, and some of the
  opportunities enabled for new efficiencies and
  innovations. He will also review some of the
  changes in the global RFID business landscape and
  comment on its implications for libraries that
  depend on their products and services.

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Library Technology Guides
www.librarytechnology.org
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Library Technology Guides

• Includes lib-web-cats directory of libraries
• Tracks library automation products used by
  libraries LMS, Discovery, Link resolvers, etc.
• Recently added section on RFID and related
  products
• Interest in collecting data on how these products
  have been implemented globally

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Lib-web-cats Technology Profile
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Koha Libraries Worldwide
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Lib-web-cats extended for RFID Products
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Lib-web-cats tech profile
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LJ Automation Marketplace

• Annual Industry report published in Library
  Journal
• 2010 The New Frontier
• 2009 Investing in the Future
• 2008 Opportunity out of turmoil
• 2007 An industry redefined
• 2006 Reshuffling the deck
• 2005 Gradual evolution
• 2004 Migration down, innovation up
• 2003 The competition heats up
• 2002 Capturing the migrating customer

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The New Frontier

• new phase of competition following a period of
  research and development that aimed to provide
  alternatives to libraries, both in back-end
  automation and end user discovery. A variety of
  new solutions have emerged, often representing
  quite different conceptual models. In a continued
  trend, librarians seek solutions that immediately
  improve the experiences of their users,
  especially via discovery products.

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Phase of realignment in LMS platforms

• Strong need to realign library automation with
  current library realities
• Legacy library systems reinforce workflows no
  longer in step with library priorities.
• Need systems that allow libraries to allocate
  personnel in proper proportion to collection
• Separate automation platforms for print and
  electronic have not proven successful

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Key Context Technologies in transition

• XML / Web services / Service-oriented
  Architecture
• Local computing shifting to cloud platforms
• SaaS / private cloud / public cloud
• Beyond Web 2.0
• Integration of social computing into core
  infrastructure
• Full spectrum of devices
• full-scale / net book / tablet / mobile

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Revised library automation priorities

• Fundamental assumption Print Digital Social
• Print-focused models not adequate for modern
  libraries
• Libraries currently moving toward surrounding
  core ILS with additional modules to handle
  electronic content, social engagement, resource
  sharing, and self-service
• New discovery layer interfaces replacing or
  supplementing ILS OPACS
• Working toward a new model of library automation
• Monolithic legacy architectures replaced by
  fabric of SOA applications
• Comprehensive Resource Management

It's Time to Break the Mold of the Original ILS
Computers in Libraries Nov/Dec 2007
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Working toward more Open Systems

• Achieving openness has risen as the key driver
  behind library technology strategies
• Open source
• Open APIs
• Demand for Interoperability
• Libraries need to do more with their data
• Ability to improve customer experience

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The Shrinking LMS

• The Library Management System no longer stands as
  the single library automation product that
  provides comprehensive support for all aspects of
  library operations.
• Many libraries putting much less emphasis on LMS
• Manages workflows related to physical materials
• Investments in electronic content increasing
• Management of e-content handled outside of the ILS

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Legacy LMS Model
Public Interfaces
Staff Interfaces
Interfaces
Circulation
Cataloging
Acquisitions
Serials
OnlineCatalog
BusinessLogic
DataStores
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Breaking out of the mold

• Academic and Research libraries especially
  struggle with how to deal with managing
  increasing proportions of licensed electronic
  content
• Public Libraries seeking technologies that
  facilitate engagement with their users social,
  interactive, dynamic
• LMS geared toward print materials
• New generation of products emerging to address
  new and emerging library realities

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Interoperability Protocols relevant to RFID

• Standard Protocols for access to item and patron
  data
• SIP
• NCIP
• Standard Protocols for access to bibliographic
  data
• OAI-PMH
• ILS-DI (Integrated Library System Discovery
  Interface)
• Standard Protocols for access to other data and
  functionality
• APIs specific to automation platform
• Generalized set of APIs

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SIP System Interchange Protocol

• Initially created by 3M, used widely throughout
  industry for self-service and other tasks needing
  access to patron and item data and status in
  library automation systems.
• 3M Permission is hereby granted to utilize this
  protocol in hardware and software products but no
  permission is granted to create derivative works
  or otherwise modify the protocol (from ver 2.0
  document)
• Version 1 1993
• Version 2 2006
• Version 3 Draft currently under review

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NISO Circulation Interchange Protocol

• Official Standard designed to operate in the same
  space as SIP
• Z39.83
• Part 1 approved October 2002 Part 2 Approved Nov
  2008
• Not widely adopted for self-service
• More widely used in resource sharing
  interlibrary loan and direct consortial borrowing
• Open source NCIP Toolkit developed and released
  by the eXtensible Catalog project
• http//code.google.com/p/xcncip2toolkit/

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Application Programming Interfaces

• Automation products cannot exist in isolated
  silos
• APIs provide a set of tools used by programmers
  to
• Extend Functionality
• Connect external systems
• Extract or synchronize data
• Proprietary APIs common in LMS space
• Moving toward open APIs and Web Services

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Benefits of APIs to Libraries

• Extensibility
• Interoperability
• Allows the LMS to connect with other automation
  components
• Create a matrix of interconnected systems rather
  than isolated silos with redundant data and
  functionality
• LMS maturity means similar levels of
  functionality
• LMS products increasingly differentiated by
  extent and quality of APIs and interoperability
  support

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Legacy ILS Model / API

Public Interfaces
Staff Interfaces
Interfaces
Application Programming Interfaces
Circulation
Cataloging
Acquisitions
Serials
OnlineCatalog
BusinessLogic
DataStores
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Legacy ILS Model / protocol
InterlibraryLoan System
Protocols SIP2 NCIP Z39.50 OAI-PMH
Self-Check
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Legacy ILS Model / External API
ExternalSystems Services
Flexible Interoperability
Protocols SIP2 NCIP Z39.50 OAI-PMH
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LMS as Middleware

• LMS provides strategic core of automation
• Less involved with end-user contact
• Discovery for Web-based collection discovery and
  user services
• Self-service stations for loans and returns
• Smart-card and payment systems

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Library Services Platform model
Self-Check /Automated Return
Library Management System
StockManagement
Enterprise ResourcePlanning
Smart Cad / Payment systems
LearningManagement
AuthenticationService
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RFID Business Environment
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Major RFID Companies

• 2CQR (UK)
• 3M Library Systems
• (also supports Checkpoint)
• Bibliotheca / Intellident / Bibliotheca ITG
• Book-Tech (Taiwan)
• Convergent Software (RFID support software,
  Validation)
• D-Tech (United Kingdom)
• EnvisionWare (diverse product line including
  RFID)
• Libramation (Canada)
• LibChip RFID system

• Lyngsoe Systems (Sorting systems RFID/Barcode)
• mK Sorting Systms (RFID / sorting, self-check,
  etc)
• PV Supa (Finland, Scandinavia)
• Shenzen Seaever Inteligent Technology (China
  RFID systems)
• Swisslog Telelift GmbH (book transportation
  systems)
• Tech Logic (Owned by TLC)
• VTLS Fastrack VTLS division

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Consolidation

• Transition from a fragmented industry of many
  small players into one where dominated by large
  global companies
• Many companies continue to prosper that operate
  within a region or country

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Bibliotheca Intellident ITG

• Three former competitors joint to form new global
  company
• Integrated Technology Group United States
• Spun off of Vernon Library Supplies
• Intellident
• Based in the United Kingdom
• Ident SAS (French subsidiary)
• Bibliotheca RFID Systems
• Based in Switzerland

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New Global Company

• Operates regionally under existing brands
• Bibliotheca ITG / Intellident / Bibliotheca
• Global company Library Solutions BV
• Majority ownership One Equity Partners
• Shai Robkin

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Diversification

• Companies involved in RFID tend to offer
  diversified products, often to different vertical
  markets
• Diverse technologies RFID, Electromagnetic,
  software, hardware, manufacturing
• Different dependencies on suppliers of RFID
  chips, etc.

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3M Library Systems

• Largest player in RFID and self-service
• Electromagnetic RFIC products
• Major launch into the e-book arena
• 3M Cloud Library
• Intends to compete with Overdrive
• E-book content licensed through major
  publishers
• Integration layer leveraging SIP and other
  mechanisms developed in support of self-check
• E-book reader developed for institutional
  lending
• In-library kiosk for discovery and download

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Intellectual Property Issues

• Patent dispute between 3M and EnvisionWare
• 3M filed patent infringement suit against
  EnvisionWare June 23, 2009
• United States Patents involved in the suite
  include 6,486,780, 6,232,870, and 6,857,568
• USPTO ruled 6,486,780 patent awarded to 3M
  dealing as invalid
• USPTO review of 6,857,568 still in process
• Announcement of confidential private settlement
  on August 12, 2011

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RFID Technology Issues
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Privacy Issues

• How much information to encode on tags
• Identifier only?
• Additional functionality available with more
  content
• Essential to avoid matching materials information
  with user
• User data can be read from non-library materials
• No public search of identifiers stored in tag

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RFID Data Encoding Standards

• ISO Standards published in March 2011
• ISO 28560-12011
• ISO 28560-22011
• ISO 28560-32011
• NISO Proposed that US libraries adopt Section 1
  and 2 and develop a national profile

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RFID LMS

• Can RFID deliver value beyond self-check and AMH?
• Need enhanced interoperability models
• Leverage existing standards and APIs in the same
  way that the ILS-DI protocols provided needed
  support to connect LMS and Discovery products
• Provide comprehensive automation model that helps
  libraries improve service and increase value to
  their communities

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General Observations

• Industry maturing with larger and more stable
  companies
• Increased development of Standards
• Helpful to the extend adopted
• Risks of investing in RFID diminishing
• RFID currently focused on increased efficiency
• RFID technologies increasingly positioned to
  support more innovative services

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Questions and discussion