RFID and the Metric RFID and the Metric System: Lessons to System: Lessons to

be Learned?be Learned?

Lori Bowen AyreLori Bowen AyrePrincipal ConsultantPrincipal ConsultantThe Galecia GroupThe Galecia Group

RFID in Libraries Conference, LondonRFID in Libraries Conference, LondonNovember 15, 2012November 15, 2012

About MeAbout MeLori Bowen AyreLori Bowen Ayre

Former IT Director of Law FirmFormer IT Director of Law Firm

Technology ConsultantTechnology Consultant

LibrarianLibrarian

Automated Materials HandlingAutomated Materials Handling

RFIDRFID

Open Source LMS SoftwareOpen Source LMS Software

Local RootsLocal Roots

The “Galecia” GroupThe “Galecia” GroupGalecia lived in the 13th Century, during the reign Galecia lived in the 13th Century, during the reign of Henry III, in the ancient forest of Melksham, in of Henry III, in the ancient forest of Melksham, in Wiltshire. Wiltshire.

She was married to Humphredi le Eyr. She was married to Humphredi le Eyr.

Galecia owned property which she handed down Galecia owned property which she handed down to her son, Nicholas who carried on the name Eyr. to her son, Nicholas who carried on the name Eyr.

Over many, many years, the name was changed to Over many, many years, the name was changed to Eyre and finally Ayre. Eyre and finally Ayre.

Many years later, The Galecia Group was founded.Many years later, The Galecia Group was founded.

What About You?What About You?RFID installed already today?RFID installed already today?

Looking into converting existing system to Looking into converting existing system to UKDM?UKDM?

Thinking about ways to extend use of RFID?Thinking about ways to extend use of RFID?

Considering implementing RFID for first time?Considering implementing RFID for first time?

Will demand vendors provide UKDM system?Will demand vendors provide UKDM system?

Will demand vendors provide BLCF support?Will demand vendors provide BLCF support?

US Adopts ISO 28560-2!US Adopts ISO 28560-2!Was hoping to come here and relish in our success but Was hoping to come here and relish in our success but you seem to be over it…you seem to be over it…

no one here cares about data models no one here cares about data models

all your vendors have shared their data modelsall your vendors have shared their data models

Our “standard” is easy to ignoreOur “standard” is easy to ignore““RFID in Libraries: A recommended practice of NISO. Prepared RFID in Libraries: A recommended practice of NISO. Prepared by the NISO RFID Revision Working Group”by the NISO RFID Revision Working Group”

NISO RP-6-2012NISO RP-6-2012

US vs UK RFID US vs UK RFID MarketsMarkets

Libraries still not 100% sure about RFID for librariesLibraries still not 100% sure about RFID for librarieswhen the tags cost 5 cents I’ll jump inwhen the tags cost 5 cents I’ll jump in

ominous rumblings: privacy, tag replacement ominous rumblings: privacy, tag replacement

is something better going to come along?is something better going to come along?

More focus on staff workflows than self-serviceMore focus on staff workflows than self-servicecould be just me…could be just me…

automated check-in/sorting doesn’t require RFIDautomated check-in/sorting doesn’t require RFID

Lack of engagement on issue Lack of engagement on issue library staff not well-educated on issueslibrary staff not well-educated on issues

vendors not engaged in the same way eithervendors not engaged in the same way either

RFID PenetrationRFID Penetration in US Libraries < 10% in US Libraries < 10%

o Small percentage of US libraries using RFID compared to Small percentage of US libraries using RFID compared to Europe and elsewhereEurope and elsewhere

o Reasons they choose RFID Reasons they choose RFID o increaseincrease self-check-out use self-check-out useo automated materials handling implementationautomated materials handling implementationo handle more work with existing staffhandle more work with existing staffo improve security for mediaimprove security for mediao Keep up with the Jones’Keep up with the Jones’

o RFID still seen as a super barcode RFID still seen as a super barcode o expensiveexpensiveo somewhat riskysomewhat risky

What I wish libraries What I wish libraries wanted RFID to help wanted RFID to help

them dothem doo optimize resource-sharing workflowsoptimize resource-sharing workflowso untethered sortinguntethered sortingo security of non-circulating material when offlinesecurity of non-circulating material when offlineo security throughout ILL life cyclesecurity throughout ILL life cycleo encode ISBN to for smartphone appsencode ISBN to for smartphone appso use Set Info to reduce media handlinguse Set Info to reduce media handlingo analyze usage (e.g. track number of check-outs and analyze usage (e.g. track number of check-outs and

last check-out, track in-library use)last check-out, track in-library use)

RFID Standards Compliance is RFID Standards Compliance is Important for InteroperabilityImportant for Interoperability

Vendor interoperability – ability to buy tags and RFID-Vendor interoperability – ability to buy tags and RFID-enabled equipment from any vendorenabled equipment from any vendor

Library interoperability – ability to read tags from other Library interoperability – ability to read tags from other library systemslibrary systems

LMS interoperability – ability to change to a new LMS LMS interoperability – ability to change to a new LMS without fear that your RFID system will breakwithout fear that your RFID system will break

Beyond the Data ModelsBeyond the Data Models

Data Model not enoughData Model not enoughSIP2 and NCIP2 aren’t enoughSIP2 and NCIP2 aren’t enough

Work of BCLF to define what we need is Work of BCLF to define what we need is excellentexcellent

What we need to exploit RFIDWhat we need to exploit RFIDWhat we need to do our jobsWhat we need to do our jobs

How can we get USA involved?How can we get USA involved?

How about via Open Source LMS How about via Open Source LMS movement?movement?

Open Source LMSsOpen Source LMSsKohaKoha

Developed in 2000 in New ZealandDeveloped in 2000 in New ZealandDesigned originally for smaller librariesDesigned originally for smaller librariesNow widely used worldwide by libraries of all sizes and typesNow widely used worldwide by libraries of all sizes and types

EvergreenEvergreenDeveloped in 2006 in USADeveloped in 2006 in USADesigned originally for consortiaDesigned originally for consortiaNow used by hundreds of libraries in USANow used by hundreds of libraries in USA

Open Source Libraries and Open Source Libraries and RFIDRFID

Both products, Koha and Evergreen, Both products, Koha and Evergreen, have libraries using RFID via SIP2 have libraries using RFID via SIP2

RFID vendors (like everyone) have RFID vendors (like everyone) have complete access to the system so they complete access to the system so they can write interfaces that go beyond can write interfaces that go beyond SIP2 and NCIP2 (theoretically)SIP2 and NCIP2 (theoretically)

The first BLCF API…any vendors The first BLCF API…any vendors volunteer to write it?volunteer to write it?

Grand Rapids Public Library’s Grand Rapids Public Library’s Open Source RFID SystemOpen Source RFID SystemRunning Evergreen Open Source LMSRunning Evergreen Open Source LMS

Developed their own Open Source interface for their RFID Developed their own Open Source interface for their RFID systemsystem

Their RFID system is based on UHF RFID because they Their RFID system is based on UHF RFID because they wanted to use “commodity” hardwarewanted to use “commodity” hardware

This is Good News and Bad NewsThis is Good News and Bad News

What’s Good and Bad What’s Good and Bad About That?About That?

GoodGoodDemonstrates initiative on part of libraryDemonstrates initiative on part of libraryGives Evergreen users an free / cheap way to implement Gives Evergreen users an free / cheap way to implement RFIDRFID

BadBadDoesn’t help non-Evergreen libraries at allDoesn’t help non-Evergreen libraries at allUHF system is not interoperable with HFUHF system is not interoperable with HFNot connected in any way to BLCFNot connected in any way to BLCF

Changes Resulting from Open Changes Resulting from Open Source LMS AdoptionSource LMS Adoption

• Software developers are getting hired by Software developers are getting hired by librarieslibraries

• Librarians are writing development specs Librarians are writing development specs and learning more about standards and and learning more about standards and protocols and how important they areprotocols and how important they are

• Libraries are beginning to take control of Libraries are beginning to take control of their technology in new waytheir technology in new way

• Libraries are collaborating with each other Libraries are collaborating with each other instead of relying so much on “The Vendor”instead of relying so much on “The Vendor”

RFID Challenges in RFID Challenges in U.S.U.S.

US libraries are moving to RFID but very few insist on ISO US libraries are moving to RFID but very few insist on ISO 28560-228560-2

US libraries are not thinking expansively about how to US libraries are not thinking expansively about how to exploit RFID technologyexploit RFID technology

US libraries do not have a good record for “holding their US libraries do not have a good record for “holding their vendor’s feet to the fire”vendor’s feet to the fire”

US libraries are unaware of BLCF (or even the thinking US libraries are unaware of BLCF (or even the thinking behind BLCF)behind BLCF)

Opportunity for International Opportunity for International SynergySynergy

Let’s build on two important initiatives:Let’s build on two important initiatives:

1.1.Open source LMS -use these open source products to build Open source LMS -use these open source products to build interfaces for LMS products that are open, put pressure on LMS interfaces for LMS products that are open, put pressure on LMS vendors to build standard interfacesvendors to build standard interfaces

2.2.BLCF – promote BLCF internationally to ensure consistency BLCF – promote BLCF internationally to ensure consistency and interoperability as we expand the uses of RFID using those and interoperability as we expand the uses of RFID using those new interfacesnew interfaces

3.3.Lori, Alan and Mick - track developments related to BLCF and Lori, Alan and Mick - track developments related to BLCF and LMS support for BLCF LMS support for BLCF