Q1: How can RFID technology simplify basic library processes like the lending and returns of books?

RFID technology has simplified the basic library processes like the lending and returns of books.
Borrowers just need to simply place books and other material they want to borrow on the touch
screen, and hand over their cards to the library staff.

The screen will automatically reads RFID tags, while the card reader opens up a member’s profile on
the system for the staff to view. After that the receipt will be generated, and with the date of return
clearly. This system eliminates the need for physical records, stamping, and other time-consuming
activities involved in the process of checking a book out of a library. In addition, the system also
minimizes human error.

Besides, returning books is also much easier now by using RFID technology, the borrowers just need
to simply dropping their books at any time into a specially designed “drop box” machine in the
library. There is a scanner within the drop box and it will scan the RFID tag of the dropped book and
marks it as returned in the system. The return details will be updated accordingly and a proof-of-
return slip is issued automatically straight away after the book being returned. The whole process is
accomplished through a link between the RFID system and the library’s host computer. This
eliminates the need for staff who would earlier have had to process all book returns manually, and is
also convenient for borrowers, since they are allowed to return their books even when the library is
closed and most importantly, the status of returned items is updated instantly, which means other
members who are waiting for a particular item can acquire it at once.

Q2: What kind of technology does your school or university library use? Does IT play a crucial role in
managing operations?

RFID technology has been adopted by UCSI University a few years ago. The technology helped to
reduce the time of borrowing and returning the books just like what mentioned in the case study.
Students in UCSI University return book by only inserting the book into the designated drop box in
front of the library, and it helps to make the process more efficient and eliminate the manual
process by the librarians and staff working in the library. By adopting the technology, not only
librarian and library staff’s working burdens have been reduced, student’s time has been saved and
it might be one of the reasons students are more willing to borrow books from their own university
as it is not very troublesome and more satisfied.

Q3: How is RFID technology helping the Allianze University College of Medical Sciences library to
detect and prevent the theft of books?

Through the installation of Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) gates in libraries, RFID tagging is
extremely useful in preventing theft. The EAS gates are linked to the library’s surveillance station.
Just like alarm systems in stores, a library member attempting to leave with an unissued item would
trigger an alarm, because the gates can sense the book’s RFID tag within a range of 1 meter without
interference of magnetic items. When someone passes through with an unissued item, an alarm is
sounded and the gates are raised, an alarm is sounded, and the camera at the gates takes a
photograph of the person and sends it to the surveillance station. Theft detection is a stand-alone
technology that operates independently of the library database, but it is an integral part of managing
the library at AUCMS.