RFID Gazette

A number of bookstores in Europe are following the lead of libraries in an effort to tag their books to manage their supply chain and assets. While the core functionality is the same, bookstores have a slightly different purpose for tagging than libraries. The Dutch bookstore chain BGN recently started tagging their books and expect their return on investment to manifest in only 14 months.

Selexyz, the largest bookseller in the Netherlands, is doing the same thing, with the intent to control their restocking efforts and reduce labor costs. They've found that their special kiosks that allow customers to perform natural language searches for books has resulted in a 50% increase in sales. Accuracy in their processes has been 100%, except where manual processes are still being used.

Because of this success of this RFID project, they plan to follow suit in all of their stores by year-end 2007. Since big bookstores came into existence, they've not only cut earnings for the average author but also for themselves and publishers. If RFID can reduce costs for book chains, almost everyone in the loop wins (except any employees displaced as a result).

Libraries are already tagging books and other inventory with RFID, so it's not surprising that some large bookstores, such as the Dutch BGN [via Silicon] chain, are also chipping books. The book applications of RFID are essentially the same with in both environments, with the exception that one is selling the inventory. But when big book chains first started up and the trend caught on, they slashed the profit margins to themselves, publishers and authors. Obviously, this is an application where item-level tagging is essential.

Given the cost of item-level tags compared to case- and pallet-level, you'd think bookstores would be reluctant to reduce their margins even further. On the other hand, since using RFID means reducing the chances that a book doesn't get sold because it was mis-shelved, the ROI (return on investment) may be worth the 14-month wait they are expecting. While BGN is claiming that it's easier to track out of stock and popular books, it's really nothing that barcodes cannot do. However, one great advantage of item-level RFID is that inventory can be done without shutting up shop and having the entire staff document everything. And that kind of ROI is very measurable.

What do New Orleans, Seattle and Shenzhen, China have in common? They all have libraries that use RFID technology to track their book inventory.

The New Orleans Public Library had all of its branches damaged by Hurricane Katrina in late 2005. The Alvar branch was completely rebuilt, out of necessity, and is reopening in a few days. When it does, all of its books and CDs/ DVDs will have RFID tags, which will be used to check books in and out.

The new system will allow customers to self-check out items at new checkout stations. This is a necessity, as the library will be short-staffed due to insufficient funds. The RFID equipment, the implementation of tags, and the software integration were jointly donated by Tagsys and ITG.) Patron's library cards will still be barcode-style

New Orlean's RFID implementation is small in comparison to Shenzhen's new public library in China. The enormous library - over 500,000 sq ft - will have around 2 million books tagged. Tagsys was also involved in this project, as well as for Seattle's Public Library. Seattle's RFID library project is the largest in the world, with Shenzhen's second.

According to 3M, 2% of libraries in the US use RFID, and 8% worldwide. One such library is at the University of Guelph, in Ontario, Canada, which has had their books tagged since at least 1991, possibly earlier. It's not my alma mater, but I did finish my degree there.

When I first went there in the early 1980s, there were many foreign students, who paid a high premium for tuition. A practice that was self-admittedly common among them was to hide professor-recommended books, especially for science classes, so that other students could not find them. They would pass along the locations of books to other members of their community, giving themselves an advantage over "Canadian" students.

Although other measures were implemented to reduce this practice, I'm not sure that this is the reason RFID tagging was implemented. But by the time I returned in 1991 to work on my Master's, most of the library's collection had been tagged, with the exception of the antiquarian collection - which is kept in a special, limited-access, humidity controlled room. The library does not have self-checkout stations, however.

Sources: RFID Journal - New Orleans; 3M Library Services; Tagsys - New Orleans, Shenzhen.

A New Orleans Public Library branch-the Alvar branch that had been damaged by Hurricane Katrina last year will reopen with an RFID infrastructure. The RFID solution providers Tagsys and Integrated Technology Group (ITG) have played a major role in its renovation work by providing RFID solutions. When the library reopens on July 5, the visitors will find all most all the 13,000 books on its shelves will RFID tags. The RFID system designed by TAGYS and ITG will enable the New Orleans Public Library staff to track the books, CDs, Periodicals and other media efficiently and accurately.

Via: [RFid Blog]

TAGSYS will undertake a library RFID project in China. It will take place at the Shenzhen Library. TAGSYS will deploy around two million RFID tags on books, CDs, VHS tapes, patron cards and other library materials at Shenzhen Library by the end of June. It would be the largest RFID library deployment in China and second largest in the world. TAGSYS's RFID deployment at Seattle Public Library is the first largest deployment.

TAGSYS plans to expand their business in Asia. It has started its Hong Kong office in 2004. The leading RFID tags developer has also collaborated with NEC Corporation, internet, broadband and enterprise business solutions provider and Shenzhen Seaever Enterprise Co. Ltd. The Shenzhen Seaever Enterprise is joining hands with TAGSYS for the library RFID deployment project.

Via: [RFid Blog]

Royal Philips Electronics has developed a new RFID chip, the chip useful for the library industry, which gives priority on data security and assets tracking.

The Royal Philips Electronics claim that its ICODE-SLI S, chip meets many of the challenges the library management confronts on many occasions. Reader logistics, material identification and inventory and information storage are the parts of the library management. By implementing RFID technology, it can be executed effectively.

Jan-Willem Reynaerts, general manager of RFID for Philips Semiconductors said,

Library systems worldwide are increasingly moving to standardized technology that is both ISO15693 and ISO 18000-3 compliant.

A good number of libraries through out the World have been implementing the RFID chips developed by the Philips.

Via: [EE Times]

TAGSYS has designed a WiFi enabled handheld, item-level RFID reader to enhance inventory tracking and management for libraries. 

The new reader facilitates handy, fast, reliable, accurate and secure tracking of books, periodicals, DVDs, CDs, documents, and other media.

The WiFi supported item-level RFID reader all together interrogates multiple items very quickly. Library's host PC or to a PDA receives data via WiFi. The reader can be easily carried with a shoulder or belt strap because of its lightweight and ergonomic design.

Elie Simon, the chief executive officer at TAGSYS said on the new launch,

Librarians have long expressed the need for a high-speed, ergonomic, remote access system to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the inventory management processes. The new RFID reader is also useful for other sectors that manage high-volumes of documents and materials. 

Via: [More RFid]

A wide variety of organizations are using RFID to fine tune their operations. RFID is finding use in an amazing array of applications.

WALTHAM-based Bentley College has spent $16 million on renovating its business library. The college has used a number of technology innovations. Let us look at the RFID component:

3M has built a state-of-the-art RFID –based collection management system for the business library. This electronic self-checkout system places "tags" inside each book. Now, students and faculty can check books with a single swipe of their RFID-enabled Library cards.  Incidentally, Bentley College is one of the few academic libraries in the United States, which has converted its entire collection to RFID.

Via

The Twin Lakes Public Library in Central Georgia has deployed the RFID-based Intelligent Library System developed by Checkpoint Systems. The system has improved collection security and registers 99% of the books exiting the library doors as against the previous system which registered only 33% of the books that were taken out of the library. morerfid.com reports:

The administrators of the Twin Lakes Public Library System have been so pleased with Checkpoint's RFID system that they have subsequently purchased additional Checkpoint products for libraries.

Read More: Georgia's Twin Lakes Public Library System Triples Loss Prevention

A new book on RFID has been launched by Tarsus. The 80-page “How to” book has been edited by Mike Fairley and brings together the thoughts of some of the most well known experts on RFID and smart labels.