RFID Library Management System
Managing thousands of books in a library and locating and providing them to book readers in a short time is not an easy task. These tasks can be handled with ease using RFID technology. To know about this goods tracking system, read on...
- Active tags contain batteries which power their internal circuits and transmit signals using battery power to a RFID reader within a range of 100 feet. With additional batteries, this range can be increased to 300 feet.
- Semi-passive tags have internal batteries which are used only to power its internal circuit.
- Passive tags don't have internal batteries.
- Semi-passive and passive tags draw their power to broadcast a signal from a RFID reader.
How RFID Technology Works
The RFID tag consists of an integrated circuit and an antenna, which enables it to function as a transponder. It can be attached to any item with the information about the item stored in it. Details such as name, origin, price, ownership of an item etc., can be a part of the information stored in the tag's microchip. When a RFID reader tries to read data from a tag, its antenna emits electromagnetic energy which is received by tag's antenna. The tag's microchip uses this energy to emit a radio signal using the tag's antenna. The RFID reader receives and interprets this signal and passes the information to a computer network. This computer network can provide information about these items carrying tags and their present status to a computer user.
The system consists of books attached with an RFID tag, an RFID reader, computer network and software to handle the information. The staff conduct lending, returning, sorting, book tagging operations. A person can locate books thus tagged, using the RFID reader which identifies and locates the book based on the signals emitted. When it is carried to the counter, the staff can either activate or deactivate the electronic article surveillance bit in the book's tag. If a book is borrowed, then the surveillance bit is deactivated and opposite happens when it is returned by the reader.
The main entrance of the library is equipped with a RFID antenna which receives radio signals from the RFID tag attached to each book being carried out of the library. It signals a warning, in case the book's tag has its surveillance bit active. In this way the system controls the inflow or outflow of tagged books and prevents the theft of books. When a book is returned, the surveillance bit in its tag is activated, and the book cannot be taken past the entrance of the library, without an alarm being sounded.
Borrowing and returning of books can be fully automatized with the help of self check-in/out systems. This system involves installation of a special software. A person using this system to borrow books, is presented with options on a computer screen. The person has to identify himself with a code, which is a personal identification number, or any form of unique identity code assigned to him by the management. Books selected by the person are identified by the system's RFID reader. And, the surveillance bit in the book's tag is deactivated by the system. When a book is returned, the check-in/out system activates the tag's surveillance bit.
Taking care of books and making them available to the book readers are important tasks. Most of the library staff's time is spent in recording information of incoming and outgoing books. Using this technology in the libraries saves time by automatizing their tasks which they can put to better use. It also saves a user's precious time that he otherwise would have spent, waiting for his turn in a line. Good news is that the RFID tags manufacturers are trying to bring the tag prices below 50 cents per tag. Using low-priced RFID tags for tracking goods or assets, will reduce the cost of modernization. RFIDs make the task finding and managing books easy.
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