What Are the Benefits of a RFID Library System?

Out of so many ways that RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Device) can benefit human beings, the main benefit is the increase in productivity.

In today’s industry, handling of material is the primary or secondary efficiency. A library can easily checkout books at a much faster process without going through opening and stamping books that need to be checked out. Obviously this is a dramatic reduction in the steps required during checkout.

For instance, like a library with RFID fully implemented, the system can replace a complicated checkout process or system. The patron walks past the exit sensors, the information is read off the smart card right from the patron’s pocket and the items are checked out. No contact with human being, no need to interact with a station of any kind.

The RFID system also has the potential to use a smart card to increase services to patrons. Information can be embedded in the card including profile or other information useful at the checkout or other library service desks.

Obviously with the installation of security addition into the RFID tag then the checkout stations become far more user friendly. All items can be checked out using the self checkout units as no electromagnetic desensitizing occurs that can damage sensitive audiovisual material. Also, this could eliminate barcode system and barcode technology is no longer necessary.

Other than that, tracking of lost items, identify quickly of the shelf reading and all work associated with checking the shelves becomes much easier using the portable readers. Scan at shelf and the reader will tell what you have on the shelf and what title of books you have on the library shelf. RFID allows taking item inventory right in the stacks rather than having to remove the items from the shelves. It also enables quick shelf reading, re-shelving, sorting, searching, weeding and exception finding.

Book checking becomes far more efficient as entire bins of books can be checked in by moving the bin through a large reader or scanning a truck of books with a portable reader. This process reduces handling of returned material by several steps.

RFID is enabling a higher level of auto-pilot in the library. With no special item orientation required or scans line to find, customers enjoy an extremely high self-service success rate. They can check materials out of the library and back in quickly and easily by themselves. The greater the self-service in the library, the more time staff can devote to personal customer service.