LMS/RFID (Dis)integration Why Standards Matter Mick Fortune

About Me 35+ years in the library market – British Library, Geac, Dynix, IBM and 2CQR Member of BIC/CILIP Library RFID Group Independent from July focusing on RFID deployment and LMS/RFID integration issues. Currently writing “Best Practice Guidelines for Library RFID” for distribution by CILIP in November 2009.

About this Presentation The story so far – How library RFID has developed Library Standards – Self service Industry Standards – Frequencies, encoding, models etc. Where we’re going – Why we need a new standard

The Story So Far

Acquisitions Circulation PAC/WebPAC Cataloguing System Typical Library Management System (LMS) Self Service

Self-Service Circulation Schematic Self-service units LAN Servers Library Management System Web SIP Z39.50 Sip messages

Self-Service Circulation Issue Process Self-service unit Sip message SIP Server Sip message Read Borrower Card Check Rules and Return Result Read Item Data Process rules and return result Confirm Transaction

A Library “Standard” - SIP SIP = Standard Interface Protocol – developed to create a common interface between any LMS and their barcode-driven self-service. A “de facto” standard Now widely used by LMS/Self Service solutions. NCIP will expand its scope to inter-lending. Not an RFID standard.

So Why Use RFID for Self-Service? It works! Easy to deploy – uses SIP. Easier for clients – No need to “hunt the barcode” Optionally, – Can issue multiple items simultaneously – Can identify items missing from sets – Can be integrated with security

RFID Industry Standards

Security Two options – EAS (Electronic Article Surveillance) OK/Not OK – AFI (Application Family Indicator) Identifies items as belonging to a library More flexiblity Both work by reading/writing data to a tag using specific rules Interoperable in theory (and in practice)

Surely there are more standards than that?

You Want More Standards? ISO/IEC , Information technology — Automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) techniques Harmonized vocabulary — Part 3: Radio frequency identification (RFID) ISO 15511, Information and documentation – International Standard Identifier for Libraries and Related Organizations (ISIL) ISO , Codes for the representation of names of countries and their subdivisions — Part 1: Country codes ISO/IEC , Information technology -- Radio frequency identification (RFID) for item management Data protocol -- Part 1: Application interface ISO/IEC , Information technology -- Radio frequency identification (RFID) for item management Data protocol -- Part 2: Registration of RFID data constructs ISO/IEC , Information technology -- Radio frequency identification (RFID) for item management Data protocol -- Part 3: RFID data constructs ISO/IEC 15962, Information technology -- Radio frequency identification (RFID) for item management – Data protocol: data encoding rules and logical memory functions ISO/IEC , Information technology -- Radio frequency identification for item management -- Part 3: Parameters for air interface communications at 13,56 MHz ISO/DIS 8459 Information and documentation -- Bibliographic data element directory GS1 EPCglobal, Tag Data Standards version Are you Sure?

Do We Need to Learn Them All? No - Most of them are protocols already in general use by library RFID companies in the UK The two most significant are probably: – ISO/IEC Defines “air interface” parameters for 13.56Mhz (aka “HF” or “VHF” – almost everyone uses this) – ISO Defines a methodology for encoding data on the tags

Why We Need Another Standard

Library RFID – A Quick Recap Widely used for self-service – (Almost) all using SIP – No significant RFID data requirement. Often used for security – AFI and EAS are well-defined, standardised, non- library RFID standards. – No significant RFID data requirement. Beginning to be used for stock management – Accessions, stocktaking, tracking, selection – Major RFID data requirement?

A Missing Link? There is no standard for a library data model. RFID suppliers have had to develop their own data models to store the data their systems use. There is currently little or no interoperability between RFID systems from different suppliers.

Why Does This Matter? By deploying RFID you change the way you interact with your collections permanently. New RFID-based solutions may be proprietary Solutions designed for one LMS may not work with another. LMS suppliers have mostly been slow to realise the challenge/opportunity that RFID offers.

The Common Data Model European libraries have mostly chosen a single data model standard of which the best known is probably the “Danish” data model (DDM). Using a common data model enables greater interoperability and transportable solutions. ISO is an attempt to define a global standard to deliver these advantages to everyone.

A Quick Look at ISO – Defines the data elements to be stored and their locations on the tag and – Defines the methodology to be used to store it. – They may be mutually exclusive options.

ISO – Data Elements 1.Primary item identifier 2.Content parameter 3.Owner library (ISIL) 4.Set information 5.Type of usage - (Books - reference, circulating etc. Borrowers – Type, Other items – for rental etc.) 6.Shelf location 7.ONIX media format - elements 7, 8 and 19 mutually exclusive 8.MARC media format - elements 7, 8 and 19 mutually exclusive 9.Supplier identifier 10.Order number 11.ILL borrowing institution (ISIL) - element 11 and 25 mutually exclusive 12.ILL borrowing transaction number 13.Product identifier GS1 - element 13 and 18 mutually exclusive 14.Local data A 15.Local data B 16.Local data C 17.Title 18.Product identifier local - element 13 and 18 mutually exclusive 19.Media format (other) - elements 7, 8 and 19 mutually exclusive 20.Supply chain stage 21.Invoice number 22.Alternative item identifier 23.Alternative owner library - element 3 and 23 mutually exclusive 24.Subsidiary of an owner library 25.Alternative ILL borrowing institution - element 11 and 25 mutually exclusive

It’s Not What you Do… Key advantages – Transportable solutions – RFID interoperability – NCIP can be deployed – Better stock management – New functionality

…it’s the Way That You Do It. Some remaining issues – So many options could impact speed of service – Most LMS suppliers not yet “engaged” – Who manages the data? – Existing systems may have to be converted

Summary RFID Self-Service works! RFID Security works ! LMS/RFID integration in any other area of library activity is either proprietary or non- existent. A common standard will improve this situation immeasurably. Ask your suppliers, RFID and LMS, how they plan to respond to ISO

Thank You! Mick Fortune Library RFID t m e. w. (from 2009)