22 Nov
2004
22 Nov
'04
2:38 p.m.
Greetings,
It was indeed encouraging to know that Pune University has taken the
lead in implementing RFID technology in libraries. There are a number
of libraries who are taking interest in this emerging technology,
including some University libraries.
One would imagine RFID-based library in India is a wishful thinking,
where only handful of libraries have implemented barcode and magnetic
security system. This may not be entirely true as someone pointed out
in the following article [1]:
"Five years back, how many landlines did we have? Today how many
cellphone connections do we have? The absence of a good landline
infrastructure made it possible for India to move to the next phase of
technology. RFID is much like that and what can possibly stop the
country from leapfrogging directly on to it?"
As we are jumping into RFID bandwagon aka retail industry, being a
librarian I have few concerns.
Cost-Effectiveness
==============
RFID is costlier alternative to barcodes.
"It is highly unlikely that the technology will ultimately replace
barcode - even with the inevitable reduction in raw materials coupled
with economies of scale, the integrated circuit in an RF tag will
never be as cost-effective as a barcode label. However, RFID will
continue to grow in its established niches where barcode or other
optical technologies are not effective." [2]
One must do a cost-effective analysis before adopting RFID. Is there
some means for doing such study?
Standards
========
Libraries have always been the frontrunners in implementing new
technologies, but librarians have always understood and emphasized the
need for having standards in such implementation. The number of
standards in our profession are so many from cataloguing and metadata
standards to encoding standards (ISO 2709) that it is virtually
impossible to find one person competent in all of them!
Since the application if RFID in libraries is only a recent phenomenon
there are very few standards related to it. It is very important for
us to know the use and importance of these standards. In the present
scenario RFID tag and RFID readers are proprietary, meaning, tags by a
specific vendor can be read only by the readers supplied by them. "If
some standards commonality is achieved - whereby RFID equipment from
different manufacturers can be used interchangeably - the market will
very likely to grow exponentially." [2]
Few ISO specifications have come up (ISO 15693, ISO 18000) which allow
for some standardization. However, currently very few components in
the market comply to them. Quite understandably, buying non-standard
equipment can bind the library to that vendor forever. In worst case,
the library might have to throw them out some day!
Integration of RFID system with existing ILS
================================
This is the most critical factor as far as librarians are concerned.
One can buy Integrated Library System (ILS) and RFID solutions from
different vendors, but will they work together?
>From the technical point of view, there are two ways the RFID system
and the library system can integrate:
1) Both the system (ILS and RFID) can comply to either NCIP [3] or
SIP2 [4]. If the ILS will have the NCIP or SIP2 server and the RFID
system will have NCIP/SIP2 client they can talk to each other
irrespective of whoever the developer/vendor of the systems are. This
is the best method, being based on standards.
2) The RFID vendor and ILS vendor can come together in partnership to
build one application which normally allow the RFID system to work
through the circulation module of the ILS. This method is more
prevalent in the market, which is detrimental to the future growth of
RFID solution.
In the second system the library will be bound to the RFID vendor and
have to buy additional components only from that vendor. However, if
the library had implemented the standards-based system it will have
more flexibility in it's purchasing decision depending upon the market
situation.
References:
[1] http://www.business-standard.com/iceworld/storypage.php?autono=172719&leftnm=lmnu9
[2] http://www.stlogitrack.com/rfid.html#developments
[3] NISO. NISO Circulation Interchange Protocol (Z39.83).
http://www.niso.org/standards/resources/NCIP_Resource_Page.html
[4] 3M Standard Interchange Protocol V2.00.
http://www.aneg-dv.de/allegro/sip2/sip2_developers_guide.pdf
Best regards,
Saiful
--
Saiful Amin
Information Specialist
Edutech India
8 Khader Nawaz Khan Road
Chennai 600006, India
Tel: +91 44 2833 0999
GSM: +91 98407 76214
Fax: +91 44 2833 1777
www.edutechindia.com
"Enhancing knowledge and skills for success, lifelong."
On Wed, 17 Nov 2004 11:35:30 +0530, vyasamoorthy@icicikp.com
wrote:
> Following news on the use of RFID Tags in Pune University Library might be interesting.
> Someone from Pune University can post a comprehensive paper on RFID installation & usage for the benefit of others.
> ==========
> TAGS TO KEEP TABS
> Business Standard
>
> At Pune University's Jayakar library, members don't return books to a librarian or register the books they borrow at a counter behind which the librarian sits.
>
> He or she simply places a smart card on one of the three "readers" or devices in the library and the books are automatically registered in his or her account.
>
> Half the 4.25 lakh documents, books and periodicals in the library have an electronic label that costs Rs 50 pasted on them. In addition, two electronically monitored antennae have been set up at the library's entrance and exit.
>
> If a book is unauthorisedly sneaked out of the library, a buzzer sounds at the entrance. To be sure, books can still be pilfered.
>
> Says S K Patil, head of Pune University's library and information science department: "If someone tears off the page of the document where the electronic label is fixed, there is little we can do. The technology is akin to installing a large padlock on one's door. If a thief enters the house through the window, the robbery cannot be averted."
>
[...]