Revving up for RFID in Contra Costa County Library

1. Revving up for RFIDin Contra Costa County Library Shasta Public Library Porterville Public Library El Dorado County Library San Bernardino County Library Ventura County Public Library Folsom Public Library Santa Monica Public Library Cerritos Public Library San Mateo Public Library Alhambra Public Library Napa City-County Library Murrieta Public Library Alameda Free Library El Centro Public Library Los Angeles Public Library Fresno County Public Library Carlsbad City Library Riverside County Library Ontario City Library Orange Public Library National City Public Library Long Beach Public Library Oxnard Public Library Berkeley Public Library Monterey County Free Library Rancho Cucamonga Public Library

2. Eureka Project Proposal Develop effective yet flexible recommendations to assist libraries transitioning to Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) to facilitate a more self service model • RFID Implementation Plan • Customer and Staff Talking Points • RFID Best Practices for Staff • RFID Advisory Panel • Transition of other libraries to RFID in CCCL RFID Tagging at Danville

3. Strategic Planning in CCCL New approach to customer service as library customers indicate their preference for more self-directed service • Enhance self-service accessibility • Fewer fixed service points Self-return station and slots Self-checkout machines

4. External and Internal Customers • General library patrons who check out materials • Customers with reference or readers’ advisory questions • Public computer users who require assistance • Libraries outside of CCCL who may be transitioning to RFID • RFID Tagging Staff and Volunteers • Circulation and reference staff at RFID libraries • Volunteer RFID self-check greeters • RFID/AMHS (automated materials handling system) and Single Service Desk/Roving Reference task teams

5. Progress of RFID Project • Piloted RFID and the Digital Library Assistant hand-held wand at the Danville Community Library • Co-chaired the Single Service Desk/Roving Reference task team • Joined the new RFID/AMHS task team to develop countywide RFID implementation strategies • Completed a draft RFID implementation plan, staff best practices and staff and customer talking points to serve as guidelines for other community libraries • Provided support to Brentwood and Lafayette Libraries with the initial tagging of their collections 3M RFID Conversion Machine

6. RFID Next Steps in CCCL • Assemble RFID Advisory Panel - Training, guidance, questions • Continue to explore effective functions of the DLA at Danville - daily router, weeding reports, inventory • Formal approval of RFID implementation plan, staff and customer talking points and staff best practices from County Librarian and Senior Management • Assist and/or advise future CCCL libraries transitioning to RFID - New Walnut Creek Library in June 2010, Kensington Library and others

7. RFID Success Measures • Smooth transition of community libraries to RFID - Initial tagging, staff training, public education • Effective and ongoing RFID support for staff and volunteers - Additional training, questions, etc. • 80/20 Self-service model for library users - Self return rate, self-checkout usage, public confidence • Ability to maximize new RFID and DLA wand technology to reduce staff time spent on daily or regular tasks

8. Community Impact • Provides CCCL patrons additional autonomy in the library so they have the capability to explore and conduct transactions independently • Frees up staffing and resources as usage continues to increase to be more available to better assist patrons, develop library programming, conduct community outreach, etc. • Positions the CCCL as a leader in innovative library technology