RFID! A four letter word?

1. RFID! A four letter word? OLA Superconference 2006

2. Background information St. James Town Branch (new) • 7,800 sq. ft. - downtown • Collection size – 34,500 • Staff – 7 FTE • Circulation – 314,031 (2005) • Holds filled – 51,496 (2005) Malvern Branch (renovation/expansion) • 25,000 sq. ft. – suburban • Collection size – 117,000 • Staff – 22.57 FTE • Circulation – 685,000 (2005) • Holds filled - 43,398 (2005)

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

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

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

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

7. Lesson 5 – Current awareness • Maintain understanding of development and use of technology • Listservs – ex. RFID_LIB • Users’ groups • Alerts/RSS feeds – RFID in Libraries -http://libraryrfid.net/wordpress/ • Literature – including http://www.sfpl.org/librarylocations/libtechcomm/RFID-and-SFPL-summary-report-oct2005.pdf • Attend conferences

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

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

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

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

12. Lesson 8 – Circulation Policies & Procedures • 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?

13. Lesson 9 - Hardware • 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

14. Lesson 10 - Interface • 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 • A user friendly interface takes into consideration usability issues

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

16. Lesson 12 – Public reaction • “It’s magic” • Few questions regarding the technology driving it • Self check-out works – 70-80% of first time check-outs • Circulation desk location – familiar and staff always available to help

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

18. 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.

19. Pickering PL and the RFI • 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.

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

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

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

23. Staff issues • 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.

24. Inventory experience • Inventory of the entire Petticoat Creek collection in the summer of 2002. • Inventory hardware on loan from vendor. • Very successful, easy and quick.

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

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

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

28. Contact information Barbara Tinsley – btinsley@torontopubliclibrary.ca Joan Luszczek jluszczek@torontopubliclibrary.ca Patricia Eastman peastman@torontopubliclibrary.ca Elaine Bird elaineb@picnet.org