Chandos Publishing RFID for Libraries: A Practical Guide (Chandos Information Professional Series)

Many modern technologies give the impression that they somehow work by magic, particularly when they operate automatically and their mechanisms are invisible. A technology called RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), which is relatively new, has exactly this characteristic. Librarians everywhere are closely watching RFID technology. Advances over using bar codes on library materials, RFID tags are being touted as a way to radically redesign how library materials are handled. But it is expensive. The tags are vulnerable to wear and tear and the technology is not fully developed. It's unclear what sort of return on investment (ROI) it provides. While it is common for libraries to now have information technology expertise within their organizations, RFID may appear unfamiliar. RFID for Libraries: A practical guide examines what RFID technology is and how it works. The book reviews the development of computer technology and its effects on library operations over the last couple of decades. Further examination features the applications of RFID technology in libraries. An assessment of current implementations in libraries and the lessons learnt provides suggestions to overcome the issues faced. Concluding chapters look into the future to see what developments might be possible with RFID in libraries. Benefiting from the rich experience the author has gained during recent implementation of RFID based system for his library and the important title aids the library and information community in understanding RFID technology from a library perspective. About the Author Dr. M Paul Pandian is Head of Library and Information Resource Centre at the Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Chennai, India. He was earlier the Head, Library and Information Resource Centre at the Indian Institute of Management, Indore, India and Scientist at INFLIBNET, UGC, India. He holds PhD in Library and Information Science from Karnatak University and Associateship in Documentation and Information Science from Documentation Research and Training Centre, Indian Statistical Institute, Bangalore, India. His research interests are digital libraries, library consortia, standards and protocols, web based information services, and Knowledge Management.