Martin Palmer Strategic Manager Transformation & Resources Essex County Council: Libraries Smart Libraries Smart Libraries - RFID, Self Service, and beyond… SmartCard Networking Forum
Jan 30, 2016
Martin PalmerStrategic Manager Transformation & ResourcesEssex County Council: Libraries
Smart Libraries
Smart Libraries -
RFID, Self Service, and beyond…
SmartCard Networking Forum
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
RFID and Libraries…?
RFID labels combine functions of:
–Barcode
–Security tag
–Without need for line of sight…
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
RFID and Libraries – applications
Range of uses, but most libraries adopt RFID for…
Self Service
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
RFID and Libraries – why self service?
• Most libraries very staff intensive (c 50% of budget)
• Large amount of routine procedure
• 10% of total budget on “counter duties”?
• Staff trained to do much more than stamp books…
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
Why self service?
Need to make best use of resources, but also…
–Changes in role…
–Changes in demand…
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
RFID and Transformation…?
• NOT “just” technology:
» Change Staff roles…
» Change library layout…
» Change library image…?
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
Government blueprint for public libraries…
• Maximise accessibility by opening at times that suit local people
• Make services easy and pleasant to use
• Reach non-users through co-location with other services such as education, social services, health or leisure services
• DCMS: Framework for the Future
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
Public Libraries – the critics’ views…
• “Britain’s public libraries are in serious trouble.”
• “…public libraries may decline so far that they cannot be resuscitated.”
• “The public library system could be sleepwalking to disaster…”
Overdue: How to create a modern public library service Charles Leadbeater, Laser Foundation/Demos, April 2003
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
RFID & Libraries…??
“Libraries are much further along with
using RFID in a consumer environment
than anybody else…”
Jim Lichtenberg
Lightspeed LLC
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
RFID & Libraries… take-up
• Worldwide, by 2005…
–500 libraries with RFID systems…
–120 million library items with RFID tags…
• Birgit Lindl, Bibliotecha Oct 2005 in UPI : Wireless World
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
RFID & Libraries…growing rapidly
Shenzhen Library
China…
Live June 2006
2 million tags…
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
RFID and UK Libraries?
9 Universities on 16 sites
18 Public Library authorities on 51 sites
CILIP Survey: October 2006
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
RFID in London Libraries…
• Barbican, City of London
• Sutton Central
• Camden
• Bexley
• Middlesex University
• Royal Holloway University
• And more…
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
RFID in Essex Libraries
• Colchester: live September 2003
• 27 sites currently
• 35 by end of March 2007…
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
RFID in Essex Libraries
• Business case for RFID based on a mix of:
– Making Gershon efficiencies (2.5% per year)
–Making better use of staff time
–Extending opening hours
–Needing fewer staff – saved by natural wastage
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
What do the public think?
• “What a great idea! – easy to use”
• “A great improvement”
• “We find the facilities and layout very convenient
– attractive ambience…”
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
Self service take-up?
• November 2006 – average across 23 libraries:
–Self issue: 60%
–Self return: 76%
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
Other RFID Library applications…
• Improved stock management and tracking
• Automatic sorting/conveyor systems
• Counter-less library…
• Unstaffed collections in other community buildings…
• Handheld devices for public?
• RFID library smartcards…
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
RFID library cards…
• Mainly in Academic libraries so far…
• Linked to access control, or other services…
• Concern in some quarters about…
Privacy
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
RFID in libraries – privacy concerns
San Francisco Public Library, and elsewhere…
• “Big Brother chip” –
“Federal government will be able to track what private
citizens are borrowing by clandestinely reading the tags
from a distance via satellite or through other means…”
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
RFID and Libraries - privacy concerns
• But…
• Library RFID systems are “closed”…
• No personal data on tags…
• Tags are passive, with limited range
• Nevertheless, concern about future developments
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
RFID and libraries – disadvantages?
• Cost
• Technology still developing
• Standards still developing (but progress recently)
• Lack of interoperability
• No supply chain benefits so far (may never be?)
• RFID only the front end – Library Management System
mainly determines how service works…
• Privacy concerns/public perception…
SmartCard Networking Forum31 January 2007 Essex County Council
Smart Libraries
RFID and libraries…benefits Now:
Improved customer experience
Improved security of products
Improved stock control
Better use of staff time
Potential:
Supply chain efficiencies
Interoperability
Better stock control and management
Even better customer experience…