RFID and the Metric System: Lessons to be Learned? Lori Bowen Ayre Principal Consultant The Galecia Group RFID in Libraries Conference, London November 15, 2012

About Me Lori Bowen Ayre Former IT Director of Law Firm Technology Consultant Librarian Automated Materials Handling RFID Open Source LMS Software Local Roots

The Galecia Group Galecia lived in the 13th Century, during the reign of Henry III, in the ancient forest of Melksham, in Wiltshire. She was married to Humphredi le Eyr. Galecia owned property which she handed down to her son, Nicholas who carried on the name Eyr. Over many, many years, the name was changed to Eyre and finally Ayre. Many years later, The Galecia Group was founded.

What About You? RFID installed already today? Looking into converting existing system to UKDM? Thinking about ways to extend use of RFID? Considering implementing RFID for first time? Will demand vendors provide UKDM system? Will demand vendors provide BLCF support?

US Adopts ISO ! Was hoping to come here and relish in our success but 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 models Our standard is easy to ignore RFID in Libraries: A recommended practice of NISO. Prepared by the NISO RFID Revision Working GroupRFID in Libraries: A recommended practice of NISO. Prepared by the NISO RFID Revision Working Group NISO RP

US vs UK RFID Markets Libraries still not 100% sure about RFID for libraries when the tags cost 5 cents Ill jump in ominous rumblings: privacy, tag replacement is something better going to come along? More focus on staff workflows than self-service could be just me… automated check-in/sorting doesnt require RFID Lack of engagement on issue library staff not well-educated on issues vendors not engaged in the same way either

RFID Penetration in US Libraries < 10% o Small percentage of US libraries using RFID compared to Europe and elsewhere o Reasons they choose RFID o increase self-check-out use o automated materials handling implementation o handle more work with existing staff o improve security for media o Keep up with the Jones o RFID still seen as a super barcode o expensive o somewhat risky

What I wish libraries wanted RFID to help them do o optimize resource-sharing workflows o untethered sorting o security of non-circulating material when offline o security throughout ILL life cycle o encode ISBN to for smartphone apps o use Set Info to reduce media handling o analyze usage (e.g. track number of check-outs and last check-out, track in-library use)

RFID Standards Compliance is Important for Interoperability Vendor interoperability – ability to buy tags and RFID- enabled equipment from any vendor Library interoperability – ability to read tags from other library systems LMS interoperability – ability to change to a new LMS without fear that your RFID system will break

Beyond the Data Models Data Model not enough SIP2 and NCIP2 arent enough Work of BCLF to define what we need is excellent What we need to exploit RFID What we need to do our jobs How can we get USA involved? How can we get USA involved? How about via Open Source LMS movement?

Open Source LMSs Koha Developed in 2000 in New Zealand Designed originally for smaller libraries Now widely used worldwide by libraries of all sizes and types Evergreen Developed in 2006 in USA Designed originally for consortia Now used by hundreds of libraries in USA

Open Source Libraries and RFID Both products, Koha and Evergreen, have libraries using RFID via SIP2 RFID vendors (like everyone) have complete access to the system so they can write interfaces that go beyond SIP2 and NCIP2 (theoretically) The first BLCF API…any vendors volunteer to write it?

Grand Rapids Public Librarys Open Source RFID System Running Evergreen Open Source LMS Developed their own Open Source interface for their RFID system Their RFID system is based on UHF RFID because they wanted to use commodity hardware This is Good News and Bad News

Whats Good and Bad About That? Good Demonstrates initiative on part of library Gives Evergreen users an free / cheap way to implement RFID Bad Doesnt help non-Evergreen libraries at all UHF system is not interoperable with HF Not connected in any way to BLCF

Changes Resulting from Open Source LMS Adoption Software developers are getting hired by librariesSoftware developers are getting hired by libraries Librarians are writing development specs and learning more about standards and protocols and how important they areLibrarians are writing development specs and learning more about standards and protocols and how important they are Libraries are beginning to take control of their technology in new wayLibraries are beginning to take control of their technology in new way Libraries are collaborating with each other instead of relying so much on The VendorLibraries are collaborating with each other instead of relying so much on The Vendor

RFID Challenges in U.S. US libraries are moving to RFID but very few insist on ISO US libraries are not thinking expansively about how to exploit RFID technology US libraries do not have a good record for holding their vendors feet to the fire US libraries are unaware of BLCF (or even the thinking behind BLCF)

Opportunity for International Synergy Lets build on two important initiatives: 1.Open source LMS -use these open source products to build interfaces for LMS products that are open, put pressure on LMS vendors to build standard interfaces 2.BLCF – promote BLCF internationally to ensure consistency and interoperability as we expand the uses of RFID using those new interfaces 3.Lori, Alan and Mick - track developments related to BLCF and LMS support for BLCF