RFID! A four letter word? OLA Superconference 2006

Background information St. James Town Branch (new) 7,800 sq. ft. - downtown 7,800 sq. ft. - downtown Collection size – 34,500 Collection size – 34,500 Staff – 7 FTE Staff – 7 FTE Circulation – 314,031 (2005) Circulation – 314,031 (2005) Holds filled – 51,496 (2005) Holds filled – 51,496 (2005) Malvern Branch (renovation/expansion) 25,000 sq. ft. – suburban 25,000 sq. ft. – suburban Collection size – 117,000 Collection size – 117,000 Staff – FTE Staff – FTE Circulation – 685,000 (2005) Circulation – 685,000 (2005) Holds filled - 43,398 (2005) Holds filled - 43,398 (2005)

Lesson 1 – Early adopters Risks - related to developing technology Risks - related to developing technology Benefits - related to having input into future products and functionality Benefits - related to having input into future products and functionality Choose your time! Choose your time!

Lesson 2 - RFP Experience - led to a better understanding of questions to be asked and functionalities expected Experience - led to a better understanding of questions to be asked and functionalities expected Review approach to service Review approach to service Define the scope of the project Define the scope of the project

Lesson 3 - Privacy Maintain commitment to protection of customer privacy Maintain commitment to protection of customer privacy Follow guidelines established by the Ontario Privacy Commissioner Follow guidelines established by the Ontario Privacy Commissioner

Lesson 4 – Health & Safety Research on Health & Safety issues so that questions can be answered Research on Health & Safety issues so that questions can be answered Maintain current awareness in this area Maintain current awareness in this area Address staff concerns through training Address staff concerns through training Enjoy the benefits of reduced materials handling! Enjoy the benefits of reduced materials handling!

Lesson 5 – Current awareness Maintain understanding of development and use of technology Maintain understanding of development and use of technology –Listservs – ex. RFID_LIB –Users groups –Alerts/RSS feeds – RFID in Libraries - –Literature – including /RFID-and-SFPL-summary-report-oct2005.pdf –Attend conferences

Lesson 6 – Building Design Gates Gates –Maximum receptiveness for tag reading –Proximity to staff

Lesson 6 – Building design Self check-out units - maximize customer support - at the circulation desk or standalone - at the circulation desk or standalone Renovation/existing facility Renovation/existing facility - similar issues, different challenges - similar issues, different challenges

Lesson 7 – Tags & tagging Tags Cost will always be an issue Cost will always be an issue Non-proprietary, adhere to standards Non-proprietary, adhere to standards CD/DVD tags – more problematic CD/DVD tags – more problematic

Lesson 7 – Tags & tagging Tagging Tag everything? Tag everything? Tag holds? Tag holds? Identify tagged material? Identify tagged material? Who, what, when, where and how? Who, what, when, where and how?

Lesson 8 – Circulation Policies & Procedures Will your circulation policies adversely affect the use of self check-out? Will your circulation policies adversely affect the use of self check-out? –What types of blocks do you have and how will these be treated by your self check-out system?

Lesson 9 - Hardware Bigger is not always better – just because the technology can do it, does not mean that it is the best solution Bigger is not always better – just because the technology can do it, does not mean that it is the best solution Touch screen monitors work Touch screen monitors work

Lesson 10 - Interface Use simple, clear language that does not use library jargon Use simple, clear language that does not use library jargon Translations not only need the correct word in another language but reflect the library context Translations not only need the correct word in another language but reflect the library context A user friendly interface takes into consideration usability issues A user friendly interface takes into consideration usability issues

Lesson 11 – Staff issues Get staff buy in Get staff buy in Rethink staffing models Rethink staffing models –Support for the public –Tasks assigned Train relief/occasional staff Train relief/occasional staff Address issues as they arise Address issues as they arise

Lesson 12 – Public reaction Its magic Its magic Few questions regarding the technology driving it Few questions regarding the technology driving it Self check-out works – 70-80% of first time check-outs Self check-out works – 70-80% of first time check-outs Circulation desk location – familiar and staff always available to help Circulation desk location – familiar and staff always available to help

Background information Pickering Public Library Petticoat Creek Branch (opened Jun 01) 10,000 sq. ft. 10,000 sq. ft. Collection size – 40,000 (at opening) Collection size – 40,000 (at opening) Circulation – 317,834 (2005) Circulation – 317,834 (2005) Central Library (lobby redesign Dec 03) 30,000 sq. ft. (2 floors) 30,000 sq. ft. (2 floors) Collection size – 150,000 Collection size – 150,000 Circulation – 721,079 (2005) Circulation – 721,079 (2005)

PPL as an RFID pioneer Risks – –Limited choices and few other libraries to work with. –Testing new product (fewer bells and whistles). Benefits – –Good support and input into development. –Enjoyed early benefits of technology.

Pickering PL and the RFI RFI for Central Library. Limited in scope since we already had RFID in place. RFI for Central Library. Limited in scope since we already had RFID in place. Define what your primary goals are in implementing RFID. That will help you to decide which product is best for your library. Define what your primary goals are in implementing RFID. That will help you to decide which product is best for your library.

Health & Safety issues Improved ergonomics for staff is one of the reasons that we are big supporters of RFID. Improved ergonomics for staff is one of the reasons that we are big supporters of RFID.

PPL – Building design issues Self check-out units - location, location, location

Tags & tagging Tags Chose not to go with hub tags. Chose not to go with hub tags. Security cases and self checkout. Security cases and self checkout. Now installed by materials vendor. Now installed by materials vendor.Tagging Two very different projects. Old method vs. new. Old method vs. new. Programming at the shelf. Programming at the shelf.

Staff issues Staff were very positive about the system once they got to see it in action. Staff were very positive about the system once they got to see it in action. Staff buy-in is vital to the successful implementation of the service. Staff buy-in is vital to the successful implementation of the service.

Inventory experience Inventory of the entire Petticoat Creek collection in the summer of Inventory of the entire Petticoat Creek collection in the summer of Inventory hardware on loan from vendor. Inventory hardware on loan from vendor. Very successful, easy and quick. Very successful, easy and quick.

Public reaction Few questions about how it worked. Few questions about how it worked. Most were amazed at speed and ease. Most were amazed at speed and ease. Many were concerned that self- checkout was taking jobs away. Many were concerned that self- checkout was taking jobs away.

The Future Testing unlocking cases for DVDs and CDs at self-checkout. Testing unlocking cases for DVDs and CDs at self-checkout. Scanners at check in bins. Scanners at check in bins.

Summary It works! It works! RFID is here to stay! RFID is here to stay! Size of your system matters Size of your system matters The way in which you implement will have a major impact on the issues faced The way in which you implement will have a major impact on the issues faced

Contact information Barbara Tinsley – Joan Luszczek Patricia Eastman Elaine Bird