LIBRARY TECHNOLOGY ON THE HORIZON

Library Administrator's Digest, Sep 2004

Very soon, a monumental task will begin. A committee will coordinate a complete inventory of the library's belongings.

That means books, CDs, DVDs, furniture, computers, step stools, plants, chairs, tables, desks, waste cans ... everything. The daunting task is expected to take many weeks and numerous staff hours.

The good news is that this could be one of the last times inventory will take this long. A new tagging system, using radio frequency identification (RFID), already used by many retailers, looks promising as a replacement for library barcodes as well.

RFID tags are wafer-thin, postage-stamp-sized tags containing a chip that is both readable and writable, can store a security bit and can be loaded with information to support sorting systems. The only additional requirement is an antenna that transmits information to a wireless reader. With a wave of the hand, circulation and other library staff could check books in and out, as well as complete an inventory of all materials. This type of tag could also speed up the weeding process, since circulation history information would be continually stored on the tag.

As with all technology, there are privacy issues associated with RFID tagging. Technology-driven library markets, such as Singapore's public library system, actually write patron information, including a credit card number, onto the RFID tag at checkout. If books are late or damaged, the patron's filed credit card number, a condition for receiving a library card, can be immediately charged through RFID.

Some fear that with personal information written to the tag, anyone could access the files with any antenna or satellite. VTLS, a company that creates and manufactures RFID tags, assures fearful patrons that the tags do not present an immediate privacy threat. "We expect that ... RFID tags in libraries will be powerless, with very limited read ranges, thus seriously limiting the damage they can do to privacy," said CEO Vinod Charchra.

"RFID is the direction libraries are going," said Director Annie Busch. So look for this technology in the future; however, for now, inventory will remain a lengthy, time-intensive project.

Libewire, Springfield-Greene County (MO) Library District, June 11, 2004