Integrated Library System Advantages And Disadvantages

Interrogator

Depending on the application and technology used, some interrogators not only read, but also remotely write to, the tags. For the majority of low cost tags (tags without batteries), the power to activate the tag microchip is supplied by the reader through the tag antenna when the tag is in the interrogation zone of the reader, as is the timing pulse - these are known as passive tags.

3. Middleware

Middleware is the interface needed between the interrogator and the existing company databases and information management software.

4. System Overview

Advantages

Reduction of Staff Duties Use of RFID technology in a library can decrease the time needed for circulation duties since more than one tag can be read at a time. Patron

Since the tags and sensors communicate with the Integrated Library System (ILS) It is possible to know exactly which items are moving out of the library. The high reliability is especially important when RFID is used in theft detection.

Tag life and appearance

Vendors claim that the tag life can be at least 100,000 transactions or at least 10 years. These tags do not interfere with the appearance of the book, and even be made appear as a bookplate.

Disadvantages

High Cost RFID is not an inexpensive technology. The major disadvantages of RFID technology is its cost. While the readers and sensors used to read the information are comparable in cost to the components of a typical EM OR RF theft detection system.

Vulnerability to compromise It is possible to compromise an RFID system by wrapping the household foil to block the radio signal. It is also possible to compromise an RFID system by placing two items against one another so that one tag overlays another. That may cancel out the signals. This requires knowledge of the technology and careful alignment.

Removal of exposed

If a library wishes, it can insert the RFID tags in the spines of all except thin books, however, not all RFID tags are flexible enough. A library can also imprint the RFID tags with its logo and make them appear to be bookplates, or it can put a printed cover label over each tag.

Exit Sensor Problems While the short range readers used for circulation charge and discharge and inventorying appear to read the tags 100 percent of the time, the performance of the exit sensors is more problematic. They must read tags at up to twice the distance of the other readers. The author knows of no library that has done a before and after inventory to determine the loss rate when RFID is used for Security. Lacking data, one can only conjecture that performance of exit sensors is better when the antennas on the tags are