Making the Most of RFID in Libraries

This innovation guide and case study is presented extremely clearly. Unusually for a library management tome, it does not sport or require a subtitle. Martin Palmer has a mastery of the key topic for public libraries of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, through his experience at Essex Libraries and as a Chair of two Book Industry Communication and CILIP committees on the topic.

The use of an unexpanded acronym in the title is a sign of maturity of the concept of RFID in the mind of most UK librarians. The attraction of such a book lies in its potential usefulness to those on the brink of adopting what is generally recognised as being a “disruptive” technology – one that could help make or break the public library service.

It is therefore comforting to read in the introduction that the book was intended for those library managers prepared to take the risk of adopting RFID. It is not claimed as a technology guide (that might date quickly) but as a decision aid and guide to the potential benefits and risks of its adoption. Its authority for the UK public librarian derives from the relatively early and large‐scale adoption by Essex County Libraries and the insightful analysis of its success by the author.

Starting with some general background to explain why libraries adopted RFID technology ahead of many retailers (probably because the recycling of items lowers unit costs), Palmer indicates the uncertainties deriving from the lack of standards and diversity of potential uses in many commercial sectors. He then distinguishes applications such as self‐service, security and stock control, highlighting how the first of these has surprisingly driven many library implementations to date.

The UK has neither the first nor the most advanced RFID implementations in public libraries, but usage has grown dramatically over the last few years. This has indicated several problem areas, such as how to deal with audio‐visual materials affecting the wireless transmission and how to handle multipart item sets.

Palmer describes carefully but succinctly the interaction between RFID systems and library management systems (LMS). Why they are needed, protocols linking them, library design and navigation issues are all addressed briefly. More information on standards and interoperability clarifies the fact that not all RFID tags are equal. Some contain more than just a unique identifier, meaning that management systems may not need to be linked so closely all the time to make use of the tags.

Privacy is an important aspect of implementations. Palmer has a chapter on this, covering opponents' views to some extent, although mainly as risk management issues to be dealt with rather than showstoppers. Similarly, the chapter on health and safety raises points of concern but does not suggest any serious hazards.

If anything the book's real value lies in the chapters on building a business case and managing an RFID project. Focus on what is to be achieved is required. This might be staff cost savings as a result of increased self‐service, especially initially, but it may well move on to more fundamental issues of service improvement when smaller branches are included in schemes where no staff reductions can be made. The technology introduces a level of flexibility and responsiveness in a wide range of areas, from use of space to staff support for the public and stock workflows.

The author provides further reassurance to hesitant managers by describing the success of the project in many Essex libraries, in terms of the percentage of loans and returns performed via self‐service kiosks and of the feedback on staff helpfulness gained from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Plus survey data.

Being an early adopter, the author may not have had the opportunity to visit many other more advanced users before procurement, and more could be made of the use of visits to assess which types of system and application should be adopted and how systematic assessments could be performed. Much of the information here has been presented at events and elsewhere in articles. There is almost no information about actual products, such as self‐issue kiosks or handheld scanners or staff software functionality, and no easy way to follow these areas up except a list of suppliers. Ultimately, this is one person's perspective on a stimulus to innovation, not a detailed guide to the technology of self‐service or customer service in libraries, although it mentions all these areas.

RFID is no more than a catalyst to library innovation and enhancement, and this book should provide managers with the same performance benefit if they have still to take their first steps with RFID in public libraries. Those in academic libraries may also find the clarity and succinctness of the coverage here attractive, as may library management students. Library users worried about what is happening to their local library might find a quick scan worthwhile. The references may even date more quickly than the text, quite an achievement for this recommended library technology guide.