[Libs-Or] RFID Summary

[HAZEL Margaret E]

Oops - small correction - Eugene is not using inventory and shelf-reading with RFID, but we have had automated materials handling since 2002.  90+% of checkout is self-check with RFID.
Thanks!
-Margaret

Margaret Hazel
Virtual Branch & Innovative Tech Manager
Eugene Public Library
Eugene, OR
541-682-6015
margaret.e.hazel at ci.eugene.or.us



From: libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us [mailto:libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of Tony Greiner/Mary Grant
Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 2010 11:07 AM
To: libs-or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
Subject: [Libs-Or] RFID Summary

Thanks to all who responded to my request for information on libraries using RFID in the Portland area.

The short version is that there are a number of libraries using it for checkin and checkout, but it seems like Eugene Public is the only library that is using RFID for inventory and shelf-reading. (I think that is correct.)

There are hopes from a couple of libraries to move to this aspect of RFID when improved software becomes available in the near future.  Specific comments are below:

RFID Libraries in Portland area.

Portland Community College- Rock Creek campus. Checkout only, not inventory.

Eugene Public- Checkin/checkout and inventory

Ft. Vancouver Regional Library- Three Rivers uses RFID and automated checkin system.

Multnomah County Public: Our Central Library is up on RFID, as is our new Kenton Branch.  Midland goes live on April 1.  We are not doing any automated materials
handling yet, but we are doing check-out, check-in and self check-out.
We are not doing self check-in and we are not using our inventory tools
yet because Bilbiotheca is promising a new one that is better but it
isn't quite ready to sell us yet.

We are getting about 72% self-check at Central but about 92% at Kenton.
It is easier to get people into the habit in a new location where you've
designed around the new technology than to change their habits at an
older one.

We aren't using the inventory devices yet because we are waiting for the new model that Bibliotheca says is way better and is coming our way soon.   We're supposed to get a look at it during PLA.  Will probably try it out at Central first when we get them.  Periodicals are tagged at Central.  That is a bit of an experiment. We aren't tagging them at branches (except I think Midland may be tagging the covers they use on the new issues.)
What we have done with the Periodicals at Central (and Central's periodicals collection is the only collection in the system that is completely ref; branches circulate back issues) is that we have put dumb tags on them, i.e. tags that are not associated with a barcode.

Cindy Gibbon

We are looking at a III product called Circa which I
think will give us mobile shelf-reading capability.- MCL

Albany Public: We use the RFID for patron self-check and returns.  We use the RFID tags on the AV materials as well as the print and "special items" puppets, childrens kits, etc.  We are not, at this time, using the RFID for inventory or shelf-reading.

At this time, our self-check statistics are around 50-55%.  We continue to encourage and teach people how to use the machines.  The Automated Handling system (AMH) is handling 10,000 to 13, 000 items per week.

We are still using barcodes to give each item it's own identifier.  Also some of the materials have metallic covers and block the tags, so our tech serve has placed a note on it saying to use the barcode.

One of the reasons we are not using the RFID for inventory and shelf reading is because of the time involved as well as the mechanics of the system.  At this time, the inventory systems are bulky and not very user friendly.



--
Tony Greiner/Mary Grant  greints at spiritone.com
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