RFID in Library

Jihee Beak

Hohyon Ryu

Definition

• Radio Frequency Identification• Technology that uses wireless radio com-

munications for unique identification of people or assets (Singh & Midha, 2008)

• An RFID tag is a small, low-cost device that can hold a limited amount of data and re-port that data when queried over radio by a reader. (Molnar et al., 2004)

• There are no strict definitions (Robertson et al., 2003)

How it looks

Introduction

Active Passive

Require a battery

Long RangeMore Expensive

Rely entirely on the reader for energy

Short RangeCheaperHigher Durability

DC power consumption determines:1. Size of data storage2. Speed of information transfer3. Tx/Rx range4. Cost5. Size

Typical RFID System

(Lee, 2004)

Applications for RFID Tagging

• Keyless entry and smart tickets• Document identification and smart stamps• Animal identification• Automatic tolling• Offender tagging

Library RFID Applications

• Collection Management– Improvement of inventory control– Remote resource locator– Efficient for both users and librarians

• Easy to checkout and return (Self-checkout ma-chine)

• Easy to sort• Easy to find lost or hidden books

Components of RFID in Library

• Tags (Kern, 2004)

– Chip– Antenna on a foil– Cover paper or plastic label– Silicon liner

• Readers (Boss, 2003)

– Conversion station– Staff workstation at circulation– Patron self check-out station– Exit sensors– Patron self check-in station– Book drop reader– Sorter– Portable reader

Components of RFID in Library

Circulation process by RFID

Security Gates

Inventory Control Sys-tem

Technical Ser-vices workstation

Sorting sta-tion

• Penetration– Molnar(2004) reported that over 130 libraries were using

RFID in North America alone.• San Francisco Public library• Seattle Public library• Gold Coast City Council Library• Cerritos Library• Denver Public library• Lied Library, University of Nevada Las Vegas• Salt Lake City Public library

• ALA's Library & Information Technology Association (LITA)– RFID Technology Interest Group

RFID in U.S. Libraries

Security Gate Desktop Reader / Writer Self-Checkout

RFID in Korean National Library

Self-Return Book Drop Checkout machine for reserved books

Smart Shelves

RFID in Korean National Library

Printer for ID card for checkout

Machine for collection inventory

The book which has a RFID chip

RFID in Korean National Library

Advantages of using RFID in libraries

• Speedy circulation operations• High-speed inventory control• Promoting value-added user services• Protecting from stealing or lost books• Reducing the time to reshelf• Longer life than bar codes

Issues for using RFID in library

• High cost and budgeting for RFID• Limitation of materials

– Physical substance, odd shapes,

metal components like CDs

• Removal of exposed tags • Exit sensor problems• Issue about RFID’s standard

2004 2006 2008 2010 2010€0.00

€0.05€0.10€0.15€0.20€0.25€0.30€0.35€0.40€0.45€0.50

0.470.43

0.39

0.33 0.26

Price of RFID chip

(Lee, 2004)

Budgeting for RFID (Boss, 2003)

40,000 tags x $.55 $22,000

1 programmer/converter rental (3 weeks)

750

2 staff stations x $2,500 5,000

2 exit sensors x $4,000 8,000

1 wireless portable scanner

4,500

222 hours of labor x $8.00 1,775

Carpentry and electrical 975

Installation and training 3,000

250,000 tags x $.50 $137,500

5 programmer/converter rentals (2 months)

10,000

8 staff stations x $2,500 20,000

2 patron self-charging unit 40,000

3 book drop units 9,000

4 exit readers x $4,000 16,000

5 wireless portable scanners x $4,500

22,500

1375 hours of labor x $8.00

11,000

Carpentry and electrical 5,000

Installation and training 6,000

The labor cost assumes a conversion rate of three tags per minute.

Issue about RFID’s standard

Retail en-viron-ment

Inexpen-sive,Less

durable

Payment systems

More durable,More se-

cure

Li-brary envi-ron-mentInex-pen-sive,

Durable

Security Issues (1)

• Clandestine tracking and inventorying (Juels, 2005)• RFID tag broadcasts a fixed serial number to

nearby readers• RFID privacy legislation

– California• 2004: considered and rejected• 2006: Passed

– Federal Real ID Act• Development of RF-ID driver’s license• Overlooked privacy issues

Security Issues (2)

(Juels, 2005)

Security Issues (3)

• Range– UHF: more than 10 meters– HF: a couple of meters– Liquids hamper the scanning (Human Body)– In some RFID even kilometers away.

Security Issues (4)

• Authentication– Basic RFID tags are vulnerable to simple

counterfeiting attacks. – Jonathan Westhues, an undergraduate stu-

dent, describes how he constructed what is ef-fectively an RF tape-recorder. This device can read commercial proximity cards – even through walls – and simulate their signals to compromise building entry systems.

Security Problem Solutions

• Unique numbering of objects• Consistent and centralized data collection

for detection of duplicates • the American Express ExpressPayTM and

the Mastercard PayPassTM

– Cryptographic operations– Side-channel attacks– Authentication of distance

Discussion

• While RF-ID library card holders can have enormous amount of convenience, they can be revealed to privacy venerability. Do you think this privacy issues can be serious problems to keep RF-ID system from being adopted?

• Do you think RF-ID is far better than bar-code and magnetic circulation system? Is it worth to move on?

• As a future or current librarian, how do you feel about adopting cutting-edge technologies?

References

• Singh, G. & Midha, M. (2008). RFID: A new technology in library managament systems. Journal of Interlibrary Loan 18(4), 439-447

• Molnar, D. & Wagner, D. (2004). Privacy and Security in Library RFID Issues, Practices, and Architectures.

• Robertson, I. D. & Jalaly, I. (2003). RFID Tagging Explained, Communications Engineer.

• Juels, A. (2005). RFID Security and Privacy: A Research Survey. • Kern. C. (2004). Radio-frequency-identification for security and

media circulation in libraries. The Electronic Library 22(4) 317-324• Ohkubo. M, Suzuki, K. & Kinoshita, S. (2005). RFID privacy issues

and technical challenges. Communications of the ACM 48(9) 66-71

• Boss, R. W. RFID TECHNOLOGY FOR LIBRARIES. from Public Library Association. http://www.ala.org/ala/shadows/pla/plapubs/technotes/rfidtechnology.cfm

• Coyle, K. (2005). Management of RFID in Libraries. The Journal of Academic Librarianship 31(5) 486-489

• Ayre, L. B. (2004) Position Paper: RFID and Libraries from http://galecia.com/included/docs/position_rfid_permission.pdf

• Lee, E. G. (2004). RFID dissemination forecast and issues: Environment analysis, price forecast, political considerations. The Journal of Korean Information Communication Policy 16(13)

References