NISO RFID Guidelines Helpful but not yet "Standards"

RFID technology for libraries still suffers from a lack of standards. Early adopters bought tags that aren't necessarily usable with today's RFID systems. RFID readers, security systems and materials handling systems are often purchased from a single vendor in order to ensure that all the components and tags work together. Tags that any library buys today will not necessarily work with all the circulation or security components a library might like to use in the future. One of the big standards hurdles is a data model standard.

Choose RFID for the Right Reasons

Do you understand that you can incorporate automated check-in machines and sorters for your library without taking on the enormous costs associated with RFID tags? Self check out is old news. Everyone is doing it (or should be) and they are getting a very high rate of self checkout use (85% and higher) with and without RFID. If you are NOT getting 85% self check on your machines it properly has more to do with where the bar codes are located, whether everything in your library is indeed self check out-able.

Two More California Libraries Jump on RFID Bandwagon

Per BiblioTech, two more California libraries have decided to move to RFID. El Dorado County Library has chosen TechLogic and will roll out RFID as part of the construction of a new branch. Riverside County has chosen P.V. Supa. My concern with the choice to implement RFID today is that libraries may get stuck holding the bag when the data model standard finally gets adopted. The good news is that there is finally some progress being made in that regard.