RFID Library Management
Pain Areas
Time Consuming Stock Verification Process: Often in a library where thousands and lakhs of books are involved, manual stock verification becomes a tedious task which may take about 4-5 days to get completed during which the library may have to be shut down for the members leading to inconvenience to them.
Weak Security: Especially during peak hours when there is a lot of crowd in the library some students try to move away with the books without issuing it. It is a pain to keep track of such unauthorized movements.
Long queues for book issue and return: Manual issue and return of books is a slow process leading to long queues in front of the counter during peak hours. This is a waste of time for the member as well as the library staff who can fruitfully utilize this time for their internal processes.
Tracking a misplaced book: It often happens that a book say for example of fiction is wrongly placed in the non – fiction segment or the children’s book segment. The patron generally has a tough time locating such misplaced books.
Getting information regarding a particular book: Many times member may be looking for a particular book but may not have complete information about it.
Technology
Pain Areas
Time Consuming Stock Verification Process: Often in a library where thousands and lakhs of books are involved, manual stock verification becomes a tedious task which may take about 4-5 days to get completed during which the library may have to be shut down for the members leading to inconvenience to them.
Weak Security: Especially during peak hours when there is a lot of crowd in the library some students try to move away with the books without issuing it. It is a pain to keep track of such unauthorized movements.
Long queues for book issue and return: Manual issue and return of books is a slow process leading to long queues in front of the counter during peak hours. This is a waste of time for the member as well as the library staff who can fruitfully utilize this time for their internal processes.
Tracking a misplaced book: It often happens that a book say for example of fiction is wrongly placed in the non – fiction segment or the children’s book segment. The patron generally has a tough time locating such misplaced books.
Getting information regarding a particular book: Many times member may be looking for a particular book but may not have complete information about it.
Technology
Proposed Solution
Book Tagging
Library Members
Book Issue/Return
Self Check in/Check out
Book Drop
Anti Theft control
Finding a book
Physical Verification
- Stack Parking
- Hydraulic Puzzle Parking
- Mechanical Puzzle Parking
- Vertical Rotating Parking
- Automobile Elevator Parking
- Horizontal Car Parking
- Tower Parking
ADVANTAGE OF RFID IN LIBRARIES
High speed inventory: A unique advantage of RFID systems is their ability to scan books on the shelves without tipping them out or removing them. A hand-held inventory reader can be moved rapidly across a shelf of books to read all of the unique identification information. Using wireless technology, it is possible not only to update the inventory, but also to identify items, which are out of proper order.
Self check in and check out: It helps patrons to get their books issued or returned without the help of the library staff. This reduces patron queuing and improves productivity.
High Security: The gate antennas provided at the entry/exit points will prevent any unauthorized movement of books out of the library thus ensuring high security and eliminating loss due to shrinkage and theft. Incase any patron tries to walk away with a book without properly issuing an alarm would be raised at the exit gate.
Book Drop Box for book return: Since a drop box allows patrons to return the books and get an automated receipt without the help of a library staff, it helps the library staff to contribute that time to more productive duties. It leads to cutting of queues enhancing customer satisfaction as well.
Patron Experience: The biggest advantage that an automated library holds is increased patron satisfaction. Tracking books is no longer a pain for the patron. The patron has a pleasant experience when he walks in a library that is completely automated with smooth work-flows and no queues at the book issue counter.
Image Upliftment: Smooth work-flows and increased patron satisfaction helps in uplifting the image of the library and hence the institution among all other leading libraries of the country.
Tag life: RFID tags last longer than barcodes because the technology does not require line-of sight. Most RFID vendors claim a minimum of 100,000 transactions before a tag may need to be replaced.