Martin Palmer Strategic Manager Transformation & Resources Essex County Council: Libraries Smart Libraries Smart Libraries - RFID, Self Service, and beyond… SmartCard Networking Forum
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum RFID and Libraries…? RFID labels combine functions of: –Barcode –Security tag –Without need for line of sight…
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum RFID and Libraries – applications Range of uses, but most libraries adopt RFID for… Self Service
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum RFID and Libraries – why self service? Most libraries very staff intensive (c 50% of budget) Large amount of routine procedure 10% of total budget on “counter duties”? Staff trained to do much more than stamp books…
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum Why self service? Need to make best use of resources, but also… –Changes in role… –Changes in demand…
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum RFID and Transformation…? NOT “just” technology: »Change Staff roles… »Change library layout… »Change library image…?
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum Government blueprint for public libraries… Maximise accessibility by opening at times that suit local people Make services easy and pleasant to use Reach non-users through co-location with other services such as education, social services, health or leisure services DCMS: Framework for the Future
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum Public Libraries – the critics’ views… “Britain’s public libraries are in serious trouble.” “…public libraries may decline so far that they cannot be resuscitated.” “The public library system could be sleepwalking to disaster…” Overdue: How to create a modern public library service Charles Leadbeater, Laser Foundation/Demos, April 2003
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum RFID & Libraries…?? “ Libraries are much further along with using RFID in a consumer environment than anybody else …” Jim Lichtenberg Lightspeed LLC
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum RFID & Libraries… take-up Worldwide, by 2005… –500 libraries with RFID systems… –120 million library items with RFID tags… Birgit Lindl, Bibliotecha Oct 2005 in UPI : Wireless World
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum RFID & Libraries…growing rapidly Shenzhen Library China… Live June million tags…
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum RFID and UK Libraries? 9 Universities on 16 sites 18 Public Library authorities on 51 sites CILIP Survey: October 2006
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum RFID in London Libraries… Barbican, City of London Sutton Central Camden Bexley Middlesex University Royal Holloway University And more…
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum RFID in Essex Libraries Colchester: live September sites currently 35 by end of March 2007…
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum RFID in Essex Libraries Business case for RFID based on a mix of: – Making Gershon efficiencies (2.5% per year) –Making better use of staff time –Extending opening hours –Needing fewer staff – saved by natural wastage
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum What do the public think? “What a great idea! – easy to use” “A great improvement” “We find the facilities and layout very convenient – attractive ambience…”
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum Self service take-up? November 2006 – average across 23 libraries: –Self issue: 60% –Self return: 76%
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum Other RFID Library applications… Improved stock management and tracking Automatic sorting/conveyor systems Counter-less library… Unstaffed collections in other community buildings… Handheld devices for public? RFID library smartcards…
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum RFID library cards… Mainly in Academic libraries so far… Linked to access control, or other services… Concern in some quarters about… Privacy
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum RFID in libraries – privacy concerns San Francisco Public Library, and elsewhere… “Big Brother chip” – “Federal government will be able to track what private citizens are borrowing by clandestinely reading the tags from a distance via satellite or through other means…”
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum RFID and Libraries - privacy concerns But… Library RFID systems are “closed”… No personal data on tags… Tags are passive, with limited range Nevertheless, concern about future developments
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum RFID and libraries – disadvantages? Cost Technology still developing Standards still developing (but progress recently) Lack of interoperability No supply chain benefits so far (may never be?) RFID only the front end – Library Management System mainly determines how service works… Privacy concerns/public perception…
31 January 2007Essex County Council Smart Libraries SmartCard Networking Forum RFID and libraries…benefits Now: Improved customer experience Improved security of products Improved stock control Better use of staff time Potential: Supply chain efficiencies Interoperability Better stock control and management Even better customer experience…