Dear Moderator

 

The reply was posted on 1 April.  Anyway here it is sent again.  Please accommodate it in the forthcoming issue of the Digest.

 

Thank you

satish deshpande

Mentor, Nirma University Libraries, Ahmedabad

formerly Head, British Council Library, Ahmedabad

 

 

 

 

1. IIT Chennai, VTLS LMS
2. IIM Shillong, VTLS
3. Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University, Ahmedabad, Alice Software
4. IIM Indore, VTLS
5. Chandragupt Institute of management Patna, VTLS
6. Sandip Institute of Technology & Research, Nashik, KOHA
7. Marwadi Education Foundation Group of institutions, Rajkot, KOHA
8. IIM, Lucknow, Libsys
9. IGCAR, Chennai, Libsys
10. Parliament Library, Delhi
11. Nirma University, Softlink Asia (Alice Software)
12. Anna University, Chennai
13. BCL, Delhi, Libsys
14. Kerala State Library
15. NIT, Surat
16. Jaykar Library, Pune
17. IISC, Bangalore, Libsys
18. PRL, Ahmedabad
19. Babaria Institute, Vadodara, Gujarat
20. IIT Kharagpur,
21. Punjab University, Chandigarh
22. Bank of Baroda, Mumbai

I believe there are at least 90 to 100 libraries who have implemented RFID in India and RFID adoption is growing rapidly in recent years.

A few RFID Service providers in India?

• RapidRadio Solutions, Ahmedabad (More than 15 projects in India)
•        www.rapidradio.co.in
• Libsys Corporation, Gurgaon (More than 15 projects in India) 
    www.libsys.co.in
•  Edutech, Chennai
•  Ecole Solutions, Bangalore
•  I-Tek, Pune
•  Gemini Traze, Chennai
• TS Informatics, Delhi
•  3M, Bangalore
•  Bartronics India Ltd, Hyderabad
• Grandeur Technologies, Chennai
• HCL Infosystems Ltd., Noida

What is the cost of implementation?

Cost of implementation will depend upon following few major parameters that will decide the overall project cost for adoption of RFID.

•  The total number of Library collection to be tagged.

Currently tag prices are between Rs.15 and Rs.20 per tag depending on the quantity of tags.

• Adoption of basic required hardware vs complete set with advance hardware.

Basic set of hardware including middleware application for integration with existing LMS, staff station for circulation, handheld reader for inventory & search and two pedestal security gate systems will approximately cost Rs. 5.5 Lakhs.

Advance set of hardware consisting of Self-check-out Kiosk and Book drop unit will cost additional Rs.4.5 Lakhs approximately.

• Currently used Library management software.

Unlike default availability of free barcode integration module in premium LMS like VTLS,Alice,Soul,Libsys etc, LMS vendors charge separately for allowing integration of RFID solution with their software using NCIP V2.0 or SIP2 protocol. Generally they charge anywhere between Rs. 50 to Rs. 75 thousand.  But there are some LMS vendors who charge up to Rs.10 Lakhs for this, which is more than the cost of the entire LMS itself.

Hence it is very important to choose a right LMS earlier during initial phase of your library automation (may be open-source like KOHA, PMB or proprietary ones).

• Vendors supplying the solution:

Vendors importing products from outside India are generally 40% to 70 % more expensive than their Indian counterparts.

•  Other Miscellaneous expenses to be considered:

Annual maintenance charges post warranty period. It is approximately 8% to 12% of product cost excluding tag prices.

Additional charges such as Taxes, Freight, Packaging, Installation & training.

Cost related to job work of tagging, printing ID cards etc.

Benefits of RFID technology with respect to other technologies such as Barcode, Micro strip, EM, etc.,?

RFID Technology Benefits:

• Non line of sight identification of multiple library items at a time.
• Can automate routine library functions such as circulation, inventory, searching of mis-shelved books etc giving library staff time to perform other important activities such as educating library members on availability, usage & training on subscribed online resources, improving & promoting existing library services, providing new services to members etc.
• Automated Self check in - check out facility for library members allowing them flexibility to use library resources 24 X 7 by using  RFID kiosks to check out, return or renew books, as well as pay fines or fees.
• Built in EAS security bit and three way security verification of item possible i.e. EAS, AFI & Database verification.
• Other benefits such as allowing open access reading rooms within library, reducing repetitive stress injuries (RSI), secured inter library borrowing between departmental libraries in University set-up etc.
• Also with RFID it is possible to introduce a contactless 1Kb memory based Mifare smart campus ID-card to all the members allowing them to use it for various applications such as ID cards, attendance & access control, transportation, parking & locker management, e-purse for paying Library dues, Canteen bills, Photocopying & other facilities

Barcode Technology:

• Low cost technology that can automate circulation functions such as issue return at circulation desk in a library.
• Increases chances of RSI injury to library staff while stock verification.
• Barcode technology does not support auto security, efficient auto inventory, stock management, self issue€“ return etc

EM security solution:

• Comparatively expensive technology since it can be used only for security of library items.
• More secured since EM strips are not visible easily but there are ways to overcome the technology.
• Cannot identify which particular book (i.e. expensive reference book or an ordinary book) is going out of library.

Few Practical issues with implementation of RFID

• Placement of RFID tags relative to each other has to be staggered for optimum performance. Applying tags on same location for every book decreases the overall system performance.

• Use of liquid gum to paste tags deteriorates tag performance due to moisture content in the glue.

• Removal of Tags. Generally an antitheft sticker with institute logo and SIR message is affixed on RFID tags to avoid this.

• Equipment Maintenance & Support by vendors who don't have technical expertise
• Product Support (Hardware vs. Software). Since many solution providers import hardware from manufacturers outside India, after sales product support becomes a problem in many cases.
• Hardware locking without informing the Client (Id cards, readers etc). Some vendors practice this so that the client is forced to buy tags & smart cards from them.
• Since passive RFID (i.e. tags don't have their own power to transmit data) is used in libraries there is reduction in system performance in metallic environment. E.g. performance of handheld reader will be poor for books on metal racks & near to metal separators compared to wooden racks etc.
• User Concerns for Patron Privacy. Generally no personal detail is written on the tag memory hence Patron privacy should not be an issue.

Criteria to be considered during Vendor selection:

• Proven capability of service provider to integrate the proposed solution with multiple LMS for future safety (with built-in SIP2/NCIP/NISO recommended) e.g. according to my knowledge LibSys has integrated RFID solution only with their own LMS software 
• Proposed Hardware & Software should meet global recommended standards for use of RFID in Libraries by NISO (National Information Standards Organization)
• RFID hardware products for library should be compatible with global protocols such as NCIP V2.0, SIP2 , ISO 18000-3, ISO 15693, ISO 14443A & ISO 28560 (Part 1, 2 & 3) in future
• Supplied equipment should allow forward compatibility with anticipated new standards
• Can library purchase tags from other manufacturers & still be sure of interoperability with existing hardware in future
• Will the existing protocols & library management software work with the new hardware & tags? If not, what is required to make them compatible?
• Vendors should make hardware & software upgrades in future to conform to international standards
• Judge Vendors Technology know-how for products to be supplied
• Ask for customer reference & site visit and discuss your concerns with them
• Special emphasis on Staff training & after-sales-support (I feel, librarians need support and not just superfluous services)

Other useful information

I would suggest that Librarians should compare overall benefits vs cost involved while adopting a particular automation technology.

Also I would recommend smaller and new libraries to adopt RFID at an early stage since initially costs and resources involved in adopting & implementing the technology is lower compared to significant benefits it provides.

Now-a-days there are book distributors who supply new books tagged with RFID tags at no extra cost, saving recurring expenses to the institution.

In case anyone needs additional information or support on RFID, library automation, Digital Library set-up, please feel free to contact me.  I am already involved in helping good number of libraries in taking balanced decision on adopting newer technologies.