RFID for Library Management The Educated Choice

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RFID for Library Management The Educated Choice

• Friday 22nd March, 2002

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Making the decision to change

• The majority of top UK libraries have some form
  of security and automation system. Today
  Libraries are often faced with two choices.
• Staying with the benefits of their legacy system
  say something like the RF technology, or
  introducing new RF.
• Changing to alternative technology EM, or
  introducing new EM.

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Making the decision to change

• Even though both technologies have been very
  effective in the functional side of library
  management, they have become restrictive for the
  future.
• Staying with RF restricts the use of self issue
• Staying with EM has additional deactivation/reacti
  vation tasks.
• Deciding for a change to EM/RF mean s the
  re-handling of stock for retrospective stock
  treatment.

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Making the decision to change

• As usual Libraries are faced with weighing up the
  pros and cons of each scenario. Now Checkpoint
  has the third option with the ILS and are able to
  deliver a complete solution combining Identifying
  (brand it), Circulation (track it) and Security
  (secure it) functions into one operation, by
  using RFID-Radio Frequency Identification

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The Intelligent Library System

• System Components

• Circulation Circuit
• Intelligent Sensors
• Staff Station Reader
• Self Check-Out Station
• Inventory Wand
• ILS Application Controller

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Circulation Circuit

• Write Once-Read Many (WORM) tag (13.56MHz)
• Low cost etched tag
• 96 bits of user-definable data
• Anti-collision capability
• Passive technology (no battery)
• Tag size 2 x 2 (5cm) x 0.03 (0.07cm) thk
• Contact programmable by Checkpoint or on-site

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Intelligent Sensors

• Transceiver antenna 13.56MHz
• Two antennas provide 8 (2.4m) coverage 0.6m
  ltgt 1.2m ltgt 0.6m
• Designed to protect exit/entry doorway or portals
• Reads multiple tags simultaneously
  (anti-collision)
• Communicates with application server via ethernet
  (TCP/IP)
• Integrated sound and lamp alarm
• Optional voice alarm via SoundBlaster?

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Operational Specifications

• Intelligent Sensors
• Recommended aisle width is 1m - 1.2m
• Detection/pick rate 95 or better
• Tag must be at least 1cm from metal for operation
• One power supply required for each sensor
• One communication cable (CAT5 with RJ45
  termination) required for each sensor

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Staff Station Reader

• Offers 12 (30cm) read range capability
• Allows for under or above counter mount
• Visible (LED) good read signal
• Compact design offers application flexibility
• Reads multiple tags simultaneously
  (anti-collision)
• Communicates with application server via ethernet
  (TCP/IP)
• One communication cable (CAT5 with RJ45
  termination) required for each reader
• One power supply per unit

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Staff Station Read (Cont.)

• Configurable as circulation terminal or checkin
  type reader
• Circulation Terminal Mode
• Circulation Reader output to the terminal is
  RS232
• Connection to the terminal emulates a barcode
  scanner
• Supports a barcode scanner interface as a backup
  reader
• Barcode scanner interface to the circulation
  reader is RS232
• Check-in Mode (can be mounted into return slots
  or boxes)
• Automatically updates item status to checked in
  at the automated circulation system (ACS)
• Connects to the ILS application servers network
• Uses the SIP 1 and 2 Library Protocol to checkin
  the item

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Self-Checkout Station

• Complete desktop self checkout capability
  w/receipt printer
• Offers 10 (25 cm) read range capability
• Menu-driven, touch screens
• Compatible with most patron cards including
  barcode, magnetic stripe, smart card
• Communicates with application server via ethernet
  (TCP/IP)
• One communication cable (CAT5 with RJ45
  termination) required for each sensor
• Reads multiple tags simultaneously
  (anti-collision)
• One power supply per unit

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Intelligent Wand

• Mobile inventory capability
• Read range of 8 (20cm)
• Visible (LED) good read signal
• Stores up to 100K items IDs
• Data output to host PC via link docking
  station/wireless
• Reads multiple tags simultaneously
  (anti-collision)
• Battery powered (up to 5 hrs.)
• Screen display for tag counts and memory capacity
  level

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Intelligent Wand

• Inventory Wand Enhancements
• Shelf order-the ability to indicate when an item
  is out of order on the shelf or not in the shelf
  order list.
• Alerts enabled and call number or title displayed
  on PPT
• Item search-ability to indicate when an item is
  found
• alerts and displays the call number or the title
  on PPT
• Improved operating speed and more memory
  available for inventory files
• Inventory over wireless LAN also available.
• 16mb of RAM and ROM memory on the PPT 2700 data
  capture unit.

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ILS Application Controller

• Provides control and communications link between
  RFID readers and host computer
• Communicates via ethernet (TCP/IP)
• Runs application software
• Windows NT operating system
• Provides full log book capability
• Allows for control of RFID system independent of
  host
• Provides reporting features

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The Intelligent Library System

• System Overview

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ILS Systems Diagram
Relay Output to VCR (if applicable) Use
22AWG shielded
Self-Checkout
Circulation Terminal
Tag Pad
Self-Checkout
Application Server
Book Drop
Host Computer
IR Interface Linking station
RFID NIC, 10BaseT Network
Host NIC, 10BaseT Network
Dedicated Phone line
RS232/Keyboard Wedge Connection
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The Intelligent Library System

• Tag Programming

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Linking Tag IDs

• Method 1, Tag are supplied but not programmed
• Program tags onsite
• Recommended method to tag a collection with
  existing barcode data
• Does not require any interaction with the ACS
• Less costly and a faster method for tagging the
  collection
• Method 2 , Tags are pre-programmed
• Link pre-programmed tags to the circulation
  system through the libraries technical services
  department
• Used for collections that have no existing
  database or for tagging new material to be added
  to a collection
• Most Libraries see this as a high risk method for
  collections with existing barcodes that are
  currently linked

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Tag ProgrammingOn-site

• Programming Flowchart
• Programmer designed to be mobile (small
  footprint)
• Checkpoint recommends moving the programmer
  through the collection shelves.
• Equipment
• Programmer
• Barcode Reader RS232 interface only
• Computer (laptop recommended)

Program Tag
Scan Item Barcode
Remove item from shelf
Start
Affix tag to item
Apply Cover Label
Return item to shelf
End
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Tag ProgrammingPre-Programmed

• Programming Flowchart
• Recommended for new material processing
• Equipment
• Barcode Label Printer
• Circulation Staff Reader
• Circulation Terminal

Retrieve Item to be tagged
Open item record in circ. terminal
Scan Item ID to update circ. record
Start
Apply Cover Label
Item ready to shelve
Print Barcode on cover label
Affix tag to item
End
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Tag Programmer

• Circulation Circuit is placed in fixture
• Programming head is positioned on the circulation
  circuits programming pads
• Item Barcode is scanned
• Circulation Circuit is programmed
• Circulation Circuit is read to have the label
  affixed

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Tag Data Format

• The circulation circuit has three general fields
• The LID, Location ID Field
• XXXX four characters, 16 bits, used to
  identify an item that belongs to the library, any
  circulation circuit read with a different LID is
  ignored
• The IID, Item ID Field
• This is the barcode ID and is typically 14
  characters, 56 bits
• The BID, Batch ID Field
• XXXXXX, six characters, 24 bits, used to track
  manufacturing information
• Example

LID IID BID 1902 32918000110024
999165 48 characters, 96 bits
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Evaluating needs for a system

• In order to evaluate the system on offer often a
  performance criteria is made
• The system had to simplify the returns and issue
  procedures for staff, increasing efficiency, and
  minimise repetitive stress motion.
• It had to have a self checkout facility that was
  easy for borrowers to use.
• Need to secure magnetic media videos and
  cassettes, wanted to treat the circulation the
  same as books.
• A link between the security section of the system
  and the library bibliographic record-Libraries
  needed to know what has been caught going through
  the system.
• Need for a smooth interface between the security
  /self check system and the Automation System.
• Efficient inventory check, search, shelf order
  system.
• Flexibility that this technology could be cross
  compatible with future systems like sorting
  equipment.

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• In the majority of cases Checkpoint fits the
  performance criteria. Even though some libraries
  have concerns as they evaluate the system.
• RFID is a new technology and that someone needs
  to be the first to implement it, we have that in
  Keble College now.
• The overall cost of labour and materials to
  convert a collection, is a major consideration
  (however, Libraries realised that any switch in
  technology or introduction of just security
  systems would require handling of each item) ILS
  promised to give the library a lot more.
• The size of the RFID tag and cover label was
  fairly large. Concern was mainly for AV material.

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• Why choose the Checkpoint ILS
• It is new technology with tremendous potential
  for multiple applications in the future
• It is flexible technology, which combines
  security and item identification into a single
  tag
• It is designed to work efficiently with a
  materials sorting system, which shall full
  automate the checkin procedure
• Self check machines are very user friendly.
  Multiple items can be checked out at the same
  time.
• Inventory checks, sorting and finding those
  miss-shelved books, are made much more simpler.
• There is no need to align the books to read/scan
  stock through the self issue or staff issue
  points.
• Best of all, combining Checkpoint RFID technology
  at the circulation desk, self check machines and
  eventually the returns sorting systems will free
  circulation staff to perform direct Users
  Information Services, both in person and by
  phone, rather than performing repetitive
  circulation transactions.

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• Thank You
• Questions please