RFID Resources | Bay Area Library & Information Network

RFID Resources

Description

The following information was taken from Wikipedia. For additional details go to: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RFID.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is an automatic identification method, relying on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags or transponders. An RFID tag is a small object that can be attached to or incorporated into a product, animal, or person. RFID tags contain silicon chips and antennas to enable them to receive and respond to radio-frequency queries from an RFID transceiver. Passive tags require no internal power source, whereas active tags require a power source.

An RFID system may consist of several components: tags, tag readers, edge servers, middleware, and application software.

The purpose of an RFID system is to enable data to be transmitted by a mobile device, called a tag, which is read by an RFID reader and processed according to the needs of a particular application. The data transmitted by the tag may provide identification or location information, or specifics about the product tagged, such as price, color, date of purchase, etc. The use of RFID in tracking and access applications first appeared during the 1980s. RFID quickly gained attention because of its ability to track moving objects. As the technology is refined, more pervasive and possibly invasive uses for RFID tags are in the works.

In a typical RFID system, individual objects are equipped with a small, inexpensive tag. The tag contains a transponder with a digital memory chip that is given a unique electronic product code. The interrogator, an antenna packaged with a transceiver and decoder, emits a signal activating the RFID tag so it can read and write data to it. When an RFID tag passes through the electromagnetic zone, it detects the reader’s activation signal. The reader decodes the data encoded in the tag’s integrated circuit (silicon chip) and the data is passed to the host computer. The application software on the host processes the data, often employing Physical Markup Language (PML).

Take the example of books in a library. Security gates can detect whether or not a book has been properly checked out of the library. When users return items, the security bit is re-set and the item record in the Integrated library system is automatically updated. In some RFID solutions a return receipt can be generated. At this point, materials can be roughly sorted into bins by the return equipment. Inventory wands provide a finer detail of sorting. This tool can be used to put books into shelf-ready order.

San Francisco Public Library – A Case Study

The San Francisco Public Library Privacy and Technology Advisory Committee recently summarized its first exploratory look at the use of RFID at the SFPL. The report can be found on the Library’s website at: http://sfpl.org/news/sfplandrfid.htm.

The committee was formed in response to public concerns regarding implications of installing Radio Frequency ID, proposed by the Library for the fiscal year starting in July 2005. In June the Board of Supervisions removed RFID from the City Budget and transferred those funds to other Library projects, effectively ending investigation on RFID for the time.

The report is a summary of the work of our committee to that point. It was not intended to be a thorough look at all aspects of RFID, but instead aimed to capture information gathered by the committee–primarily about privacy and health–which may prove valuable if the Library pursues RFID again.

A hard copy of the 76 page report (along with comment forms) is also available to be consulted at each library of the system currently open. Written public comments submitted in hard copy or by email to citylibrarian@sfpl.org by November 11, 2005 are solicited and will be added to the report in an addendum.

Those interested in the multifarious issues of RFID in libraries may find this report useful. It incorporates some research, recommendations, sample questions suitable for a Request For Information, and a large list of resources including documents reprinted from SFPL and other bodies on various topics (e.g. an RFID survey and an SFPL ergonomic report), articles (many clickable), and links to websites and documents of relevant organizations: libraries, ALA, vendors, non-profits (including some critical of RFID), and governmental bodies, etc. Some of the resources go beyond health and privacy into areas like management of RFID installation and return on investment.

This case study was provided by Lisa Schiff, Chair, Library Technology and Privacy Advisory Committee.

Additional Resources