RFID IN THE LIBRARY
CONTEXT: INTEGRATION,
INTEROPERABILITY, AND
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
Marshall Breeding
Director for Innovative Technology and Research
Vanderbilt University Library
Founder and Publisher, Library Technology Guides
http://www.librarytechnology.org/
http://twitter.com/mbreeding
17 Aug 2011
77th IFLA General Conference and Assembly
Summary

Many aspects of technology supporting the automation of libraries
are changing rapidly. Service-oriented architecture, Web-based
computing, increased integration of social networking concepts, as
well as cloud computing such as software-as-a-service characterize
this emerging landscape. Products and services making use of RFID
technology have to exist in an automation ecosystem increasingly
reshaped by these technologies. Breeding will present a view of how
RFID and related technologies fit into this evolving environment,
some of the challenges involved such as the need for more modern
protocols for interoperability, and some of the opportunities enabled
for new efficiencies and innovations. He will also review some of the
changes in the global RFID business landscape and comment on its
implications for libraries that depend on their products and services.
Library Technology Guides
Library Technology Guides
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Includes lib-web-cats directory of libraries
Tracks library automation products used by
libraries: LMS, Discovery, Link resolvers, etc.
Recently added section on RFID and related
products
Interest in collecting data on how these products
have been implemented globally
Lib-web-cats Technology Profile
Koha Libraries Worldwide
Lib-web-cats extended for RFID
Products
Lib-web-cats tech profile
LJ Automation Marketplace
Annual Industry report published in Library Journal:
2010: The New Frontier
 2009: Investing in the Future
 2008: Opportunity out of turmoil
 2007: An industry redefined
 2006: Reshuffling the deck
 2005: Gradual evolution
 2004: Migration down, innovation up
 2003: The competition heats up
 2002: Capturing the migrating customer

The New Frontier…

new phase of competition following a period of
research and development that aimed to provide
alternatives to libraries, both in back-end
automation and end user discovery. A variety of
new solutions have emerged, often representing
quite different conceptual models. In a continued
trend, librarians seek solutions that immediately
improve the experiences of their users, especially
via discovery products.
Phase of realignment in LMS platforms
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Strong need to realign library automation with
current library realities
Legacy library systems reinforce workflows no
longer in step with library priorities.
Need systems that allow libraries to allocate
personnel in proper proportion to collection
Separate automation platforms for print and
electronic have not proven successful
Key Context: Technologies in transition
 XML
/ Web services / Service-oriented Architecture
 Local computing shifting to cloud platforms
 SaaS

/ private cloud / public cloud
Beyond Web 2.0:
 Integration

of social computing into core
infrastructure
Full spectrum of devices
 full-scale
/ net book / tablet / mobile
Revised library automation priorities

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Fundamental assumption: Print + Digital + Social
Print-focused models not adequate for modern libraries
Libraries currently moving toward surrounding core ILS with
additional modules to handle electronic content, social
engagement, resource sharing, and self-service
New discovery layer interfaces replacing or supplementing ILS
OPACS
Working toward a new model of library automation


Monolithic legacy architectures replaced by fabric of SOA applications
Comprehensive Resource Management
“It's Time to Break the Mold of the Original ILS” Computers in Libraries Nov/Dec 2007
Working toward more Open Systems

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Achieving openness has risen as the key driver
behind library technology strategies
Open source
Open API’s
Demand for Interoperability
Libraries need to do more with their data
Ability to improve customer experience
The Shrinking LMS
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The Library Management System no longer stands as
the single library automation product that provides
comprehensive support for all aspects of library
operations.
Many libraries putting much less emphasis on LMS
Manages workflows related to physical materials
Investments in electronic content increasing
Management of e-content handled outside of the ILS
Legacy LMS Model
Public Interfaces:
Staff Interfaces:
Interfaces
Business
Logic
Data
Stores
Circulation
BIB
Cataloging
Holding
/ Items
Circ
Transact
Acquisitions
User
Serials
Vendor
Online
Catalog
$$$
Funds
Policies
Breaking out of the mold
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Academic and Research libraries especially
struggle with how to deal with managing increasing
proportions of licensed electronic content
Public Libraries seeking technologies that facilitate
engagement with their users: social, interactive,
dynamic
LMS geared toward print materials
New generation of products emerging to address
new and emerging library realities
Interoperability Protocols relevant to
RFID

Standard Protocols for access to item and patron data
SIP
 NCIP


Standard Protocols for access to bibliographic data
OAI-PMH
 ILS-DI (Integrated Library System – Discovery Interface)


Standard Protocols for access to other data and
functionality
API’s specific to automation platform
 Generalized set of API’s

SIP: System Interchange Protocol
•
•
•
•
•
Initially created by 3M, used widely throughout
industry for self-service and other tasks needing access
to patron and item data and status in library
automation systems.
3M: “Permission is hereby granted to utilize this
protocol in hardware and software products but no
permission is granted to create derivative works or
otherwise modify the protocol” (from ver 2.0
document)
Version 1: 1993
Version 2: 2006
Version 3: Draft currently under review
NISO Circulation Interchange Protocol

Official Standard designed to operate in the same
space as SIP


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Z39.83
Part 1 approved October 2002; Part 2 Approved Nov
2008
Not widely adopted for self-service
More widely used in resource sharing: interlibrary loan
and direct consortial borrowing
Open source NCIP Toolkit developed and released by
the eXtensible Catalog project

http://code.google.com/p/xcncip2toolkit/
Application Programming Interfaces


Automation products cannot exist in isolated silos
APIs provide a set of tools used by programmers to:
 Extend
Functionality
 Connect external systems
 Extract or synchronize data

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Proprietary API’s common in LMS space
Moving toward open API’s and Web Services
Benefits of APIs to Libraries
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Extensibility
Interoperability
Allows the LMS to connect with other automation
components
Create a matrix of interconnected systems rather
than isolated silos with redundant data and
functionality
LMS maturity means similar levels of functionality
LMS products increasingly differentiated by extent
and quality of APIs and interoperability support
Legacy ILS Model / API
Public Interfaces:
Staff Interfaces:
Interfaces
Application Programming Interfaces
Business `
Logic
Data
Stores
Circulation
BIB
Cataloging
Holding
/ Items
Circ
Transact
Acquisitions
User
Serials
Vendor
Online
Catalog
$$$
Funds
Policies
Legacy ILS Model / protocol
Interlibrary
Loan
System
Public Interfaces:
Staff Interfaces:
Protocols: SIP2 NCIP Z39.50 OAI-PMH
Application Programming Interfaces
Circulation Cataloging
Acquisitions
Serials
Online
Catalog
Self-Check
BIB
Holding
/ Items
Circ
Transact
User
Vendor
$$$
Funds
Policies
Legacy ILS Model / External API
External
Systems &
Services
Public Interfaces:
Staff Interfaces:
Application Programming Interfaces / Web Services
Circulation Cataloging
Acquisitions
Serials
Online
Catalog
Flexible
Interoperability
Protocols: SIP2 NCIP Z39.50 OAI-PMH
BIB
Holding
/ Items
Circ
Transact
User
Vendor
$$$
Funds
Policies
LMS as Middleware
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
LMS provides strategic core of automation
Less involved with end-user contact
 Discovery
for Web-based collection discovery and user
services
 Self-service stations for loans and returns
 Smart-card and payment systems
Library Services Platform model
Discovery Service
Search:
Self-Check /
Automated
Return
Search
Engine
API Layer
`
Consolidated index
Library Management
System
Digital
Coll
ProQuest
EBSCO
…
JSTOR
Stock
Management
Other
Resources
Enterprise
Resource
Planning
Learning
Management
Smart Cad /
Payment
systems
Authentication
Service
RFID Business Environment
Major RFID Companies
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2CQR (UK)
3M Library Systems

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
(also supports Checkpoint)
Bibliotheca / Intellident /
Bibliotheca ITG
Book-Tech (Taiwan)
Convergent Software (RFID
support software,
Validation)
D-Tech (United Kingdom)
EnvisionWare (diverse
product line including RFID)
Libramation (Canada)
Lib~Chip RFID system
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Lyngsoe Systems (Sorting
systems RFID/Barcode)
mK Sorting Systms (RFID /
sorting, self-check, etc)
PV Supa (Finland,
Scandinavia)
Shenzen Seaever Inteligent
Technology (China – RFID
systems)
Swisslog Telelift GmbH
(book transportation
systems)
Tech Logic (Owned by TLC)
VTLS – Fastrack VTLS
division
Consolidation
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Transition from a fragmented industry of many small
players into one where dominated by large global
companies
Many companies continue to prosper that operate
within a region or country
Bibliotheca – Intellident – ITG


Three former competitors joint to form new global
company
Integrated Technology Group – United States
 Spun

off of Vernon Library Supplies
Intellident
 Based
 Ident

in the United Kingdom
SAS (French subsidiary)
Bibliotheca RFID Systems
 Based
in Switzerland
New Global Company

Operates regionally under existing brands
 Bibliotheca


ITG / Intellident / Bibliotheca
Global company: Library Solutions BV
Majority ownership: One Equity Partners
 Shai
Robkin
Diversification
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Companies involved in RFID tend to offer diversified
products, often to different vertical markets
Diverse technologies: RFID, Electromagnetic,
software, hardware, manufacturing
Different dependencies on suppliers of RFID chips,
etc.
3M Library Systems

Largest player in RFID and self-service
 Electromagnetic

+ RFIC products
Major launch into the e-book arena
 3M
Cloud Library
 Intends to compete with Overdrive
 E-book content – licensed through major publishers
 Integration layer – leveraging SIP and other
mechanisms developed in support of self-check
 E-book reader – developed for institutional lending
 In-library kiosk for discovery and download
Intellectual Property Issues
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Patent dispute between 3M and EnvisionWare
3M filed patent infringement suit against EnvisionWare
June 23, 2009
United States Patents involved in the suite include:
6,486,780, 6,232,870, and 6,857,568
USPTO ruled 6,486,780 patent awarded to 3M
dealing as invalid
USPTO review of 6,857,568 still in process
Announcement of confidential private settlement on
August 12, 2011
RFID Technology Issues
Privacy Issues
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How much information to encode on tags
Identifier only?
Additional functionality available with more content
Essential to avoid matching materials information
with user
 User

data can be read from non-library materials
No public search of identifiers stored in tag
RFID Data Encoding Standards
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•
•
•
•
ISO Standards published in March 2011
ISO 28560-1:2011
ISO 28560-2:2011
ISO 28560-3:2011
NISO: Proposed that US libraries adopt Section 1
and 2 and develop a national profile
RFID & LMS
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Can RFID deliver value beyond self-check and
AMH?
Need enhanced interoperability models
Leverage existing standards and API’s in the same
way that the ILS-DI protocols provided needed
support to connect LMS and Discovery products
Provide comprehensive automation model that helps
libraries improve service and increase value to their
communities
General Observations


Industry maturing with larger and more stable
companies
Increased development of Standards
 Helpful



to the extend adopted
Risks of investing in RFID diminishing
RFID currently focused on increased efficiency
RFID technologies increasingly positioned to support
more innovative services
Questions and discussion