Current Issues in Library RFID

Current Issues in RFID

Mick Fortune

May 2015

Today’s Topics

• Quick reminder – what is RFID?

• New challenges/issues

– Privacy

– Communications/Interoperability

– Near Field Communication (NFC)

Quick reminder – what is RFID?

• RFID = Radio Frequency IDentification

• Used for? – Self-Service Loans and Returns

But new functionality…

• Acquisition/Accession

• Borrower ID

• Collection Management

• Discovery

• E-book/physical stock integration

…now on different platforms

Kiosk Discovery Mobile

Current issues

Privacy

EU Mandate M436

• Published 2008

• Made recommendations on:

– Signage

– Privacy Impact Assessments (PIA)

• Standards EN 16570 & EN16571 published in 2014 signal EU intentions for M436.

EN 16570 & 16571

• EN 16570 – Defines type of signs to be displayed, and privacy statement to accompany them

• EN 16571 – Sets out criteria for carrying out a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA)

• Commercial companies are promoting PIA software to librarians.

Time to panic??

RFID in the library – a case of arrested development?

• RFID/LMS communication mostly uses a 3M protocol (called SIP) developed over 25 years ago.

• SIP is limited in scope (to loans and returns) and is no longer being developed.

• So suppliers use APIs to develop new services - but functionality may be lost when systems change.

A Solution? - The BIC Library Communication Framework (LCF)

• An industry initiative managed by BIC.

• Supported by all major UK RFID and many LMS suppliers.

• Data “framework” of elements and values used for communication ensures better interoperability

• Open to everyone

Time to rethink purchasing strategies?

Mobile RFID –(aka Near Field

Communication)

What can we do with NFC?

• Stock can already be linked to web resources using RFID scanners.

• NFC enables smartphones and tablets to do the same

• The good news – and the bad

– DIY solutions are now being developed using freely available apps that can read and write to library tags using phones and tablets.

Time for action?

Where to find out more

• BIC on the web - www.bic.org.uk

• Lists

– UK (https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?A0=LIB-RFID-UK)

– USA(http://listsmart.osl.state.or.us/mailman/listinfo/rfid_lib)

• Blogs – suppliers, consultants etc.

• Training workshops

Thank You!

e: mick@libraryrfid.co.ukb: http://mickfortune.com/Wordpress

w: http://www.libraryrfid.co.ukt: +44 7786 625544

@mickfortune

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