Woburn Public Library renovated its infrastructure using an RFID-based materials-handling system. This system includes self-service kiosks that most students and RFID reader security gates can use. The RFID-based system aims better to track hundreds of books and other learning materials.
The management found that renovating the library made returned books available for other students to check out much easier and faster. Additionally, it has made the checkout process more straightforward for students using Tech Logic’s RFID self-checkout solution.
Woburn’s Public Library RFID-based system
The RFID self-checkout solution includes self-checkout kiosks, a student’s self-checkout station, security gates, and an AMH (Automated Materials-Handling) system. The AMH system captures the data by reading the RFID tags on the item. To indicate which books or learning materials the student has returned, each book, magazine, CD and DVD stored in the library has a 13.56 MHz RFID tag.
To help encourage quick and easy circulation of books, Woburn’s Public Library has implemented two types of self-checkout technologies. One is a children’s kiosk that looks like a robot, and the other is a self-checkout kiosk. Both of these kiosks are available in front of the circulation desk on the ground and first floor of the library. If students need help completing the checkout process, the librarian is ready to help them.
How does the system work?
When a student tries to leave the library with a book or other learning materials, the RFID reader installed at the gate reads the security bits on the item’s RFID tag. If the student does not check out an item, their security bits have not been unarmed. The system sets off an alarm at the security gate. The librarians can also use the library’s shelf manager reader to find whether an item is missing from the self. Also, count the items on every shelf and create a list of items on each shelf.
The employees can also use the RFID reader to find a particular book or item using the device’s list-locator mode. During this mode, the device acts like a Geiger counter. Students can return books or other learning materials to the library in two different ways. One way is by making an exterior book drop or a dedicated drop located on the ground as well as on the first floor of the library.
Items that a student returns are sent directly to the system. The system then checks each book or item that the student has returned. It also rearms the security bits on the item’s RFID tag and sorts them into different bins. Workers unload the bins and place all the items on the chart, which the employees put into their designated shelves. The system has interior or exterior slots where students can drop books they want to return along with carriers that separate and move the returned items. The system also has an RFID reader to automatically rearm the security bits on the item’s RFID label. Then, the conveyors sort the returned items into designated bins.
The librarian can check in books or other materials the students have returned to the Children’s Room on the library’s ground floor by putting the returned items on the system’s RFID antenna. The antenna reads the item’s tag IDs and then transfers the data to the computer program. Lastly, the program changes the status from checked out to return. The security bit on the tag of an item is armed again after the item’s status is changed.
