The State of Oregon, via the State Library, has generously offered to host the RFID_LIB list. I am much relieved.
If you are interested (and I encourage you!) in joining, go to http://listsmart.osl.state.or.us/mailman/listinfo/rfid_lib
I was humbled by the outpouring of support from subscribers as the old host died, and the offers to host the list. Apparently the list has been a valued resource, and I look forward to continuing the conversations there, as well as here.
Those of you also subscribed to the RFID_LIB email list know that we are facing a probable move of hosting. I hope to get that settled before we lose our current hosting, but if not, I will post developments here on our RFID in Libraries blog.
If anyone on this blog who isn’t on RFID_LIB but is a non-commercial venture that could possibly host RFID_LIB, and rather quickly, please let me know.
Thank you for your support.
Update: at 8:30 this morning, I discovered that in fact the list has already been deactivated, despite having been told “several business days” before that would occur. I sincerely apologize. Please do stay tuned for further developments. - MH
From the RFID Connections newsletter:California Research Bureau Notice
In response to repeated RFID legislation offerings in the state of California, a California Research Bureau RFID Advisory Committee has been established to investigate issues surrounding RFID. While the draft legislation in the past two years has focused on identification documents and RFID, the report appears to have a broad scope and will discuss RFID in a general sense. The Chairman, Dr. Chris Marxen is collecting written comments through October 30, 2007. If your company has an interest in the success of RFID, and would like to submit comments, please send them to cmarxen(at)library.ca.gov.
Written Comments no later than October 30, 2007.
Many of you will recall that several libraries in California in the last 5 years have had strenuous public outcry about moving to RFID.
I recently presented this information at a conference, and thought I’d toss it out here. Probably not news to anyone, but just in case it’s helpful - or if anyone wants to start a conversation around what I presented.
Polaris User Group Conference, October 2007
Margaret Hazel, Eugene Public Library
General RFID industry status:
Moving from a gee-whiz cool new technology to more settled use of it as a tool for a variety of purposes, including inventory control, identification verification, toll road payment verification, pharmaceutical safety, seals on imported goods, and sensors for tracking temperature, humidity, shock, and light.
Library-specific trends & developments:
- Moving towards tag protocol and content standards, as recommended in the soon-to-be released NISO document. Our own Louise Schaper at Fayetteville is a member of the developing team. An international data model recommendation is also underway.
- Moving away from vendors recommending as a primary solution for security purposes
- Vendors continue to explore ways to alternately secure media, while allowing RFID self-check; magnetic lockboxes around the case, cases with RFID-unlocking tabs, etc.
- Continuing use of barcodes, despite early predictions that RFID would spell the end of barcode usage.
- Continuing development of RFID products by integrated library systems, such as Polaris’ ExpressCheck.
- Exploration of supply chain tagging, and use of one tag through the life of the item.
Since there is much talk in library RFID circles about how we can broaden the use of RFID tags from just in-library use to further up and down the supply chain, from printers to distributors to libraries to interlibrary loan to discards/recycling, the report summarized in this press release may be of interest to us all.http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/releases/rfidsecurity.html
To quote:“The new NIST publication focuses on RFID applications for asset management, tracking, matching, and process and supply chain control. Its list of recommended practices for ensuring the security and privacy of RFID systems includes:
encryption of radio signals when feasible;
authentication of approved users of RFID systems;
shielding RFID tags or tag reading areas with metal screens or films to prevent unauthorized access;
audit procedures, logging and time stamping to help in detecting security breaches; and
tag disposal and recycling procedures that permanently disable or destroy sensitive data. “
Some of these recommendations would be pretty hard to implement in a library, since we are working with hundreds to thousands of patrons and public access to our buildings. Many would need to have the cooperation of vendors.
LITA’s RFID group is presenting “RFID in Libraries: New Developments” in D.C. on June 23, Saturday, from 1:30-3:30 at the Washington Convention Center. I’ll be there in the audience, and will report back.
Ok, many apologies, once again. This time for letting the domain name expire, and losing the ownership of the rfidinlibraries.net. We are now at rfidinlibraries.org.
Citing needs to address public concerns over privacy and data usage, the EU has committed to draft rules on RFID use “before they become widespread” in Europe. One wonders if they realize how widespread the use is in libraries, or if they only looked at industrial/commercial use. Anecdotal evidence stateside is that European libraries have invested heavily in RFID technologies.
Globe & Mail article here
Don’s blog comment here, and links to the ALA resolutions relating to RFID.
Karen Coyle writes to the RFID_LIB list:
“The LibraryLaw Blog has information about a California bill relating to the use of RFID in government issued identification documents.
See: http://blog.librarylaw.com/librarylaw/2007/01/rfid_legislatio.html You can find the bill at: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/sen/sb_0001-0050/sb_30_bill_20061204_introduced.html
And the key part is Article 4. I’m going to think about it and will probably write about in in my blog (kcoyle.blogspot.com). It’s complex and has the unfortunately characteristic of attempting to legislate technology while using fairly imprecise language.”
EPCGlobal has published guidelines for how to ensure and maintain safe levels of exposure to electro-magnetic fields. It seems pretty clear that the 13.56 MhZ library RFID is generally emitting EMF well below levels of concern, but you may want to read this report for further data.
http://www.epcglobalinc.org/public/bestpractice/EPCglobal_Best_Practices_January_2007.pdf
They don’t specifically mention applications such as linking a set of DVDs, for security or check-out in a library, but on a quick read it seems to me to be a possibly logical leap of use.
Leif Andresen, Projectleader NWI Data Model for use of RFID in libraries Chair Danish Standards S24 - Information and Documentation, posted this to the RFID_LIB email list this morning:
“Development of an international standard Data Model for use of RFID in libraries is now started
National experts from Australia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom, and United States together with representatives from EDItEUR and EBF/IBF (European Booksellers Federation and International Booksellers Federation) have had the initial meeting concerning development of an international standard Data Model for use of RFID in libraries. The work is initiated from ISO TC46/SC4 - Information and Documentation. Technical Interoperability - after a ballot with 100 percent approval.
At the initial meeting the experts discussed all aspects of the future standard and agreed on developing a set of statements as basis for the new standard. This set of statements will be published for public comment in beginning of 2007. All key players are invited to comment on the statements.
Beside the data model itself, the statements will also address topics such as privacy, frequency and migration from already implemented data models. At the meeting was reached consensus about high flexibility in the data model as well as the need for well defined profiles.
Actual information and key documents are published at the project website http://www.bs.dk/standards/rfid/ ”
Sounds interesting! Comments are turned on, by the way, so please do feel free to interact….
-Margaret
Leif Andresen, Projectleader NWI Data Model for use of RFID in libraries Chair Danish Standards S24 - Information and Documentation, posted this to the RFID_LIB email list this morning:
“Development of an international standard Data Model for use of RFID in libraries is now started
National experts from Australia, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom, and United States together with representatives from EDItEUR and EBF/IBF (European Booksellers Federation and International Booksellers Federation) have had the initial meeting concerning development of an international standard Data Model for use of RFID in libraries. The work is initiated from ISO TC46/SC4 - Information and Documentation. Technical Interoperability - after a ballot with 100 percent approval.
At the initial meeting the experts discussed all aspects of the future standard and agreed on developing a set of statements as basis for the new standard. This set of statements will be published for public comment in beginning of 2007. All key players are invited to comment on the statements.
Beside the data model itself, the statements will also address topics such as privacy, frequency and migration from already implemented data models. At the meeting was reached consensus about high flexibility in the data model as well as the need for well defined profiles.
Actual information and key documents are published at the project website http://www.bs.dk/standards/rfid/ ”
Sounds interesting! Comments are turned on, by the way, so please do feel free to interact….
-Margaret
Dear faithful readers, and those of you who have simply forgotten to remove this blog from your newsfeeds, I am writing to inform you that your faith (or forgetfulness) has been rewarded.
RFID in Libraries lives again, now run by myself, Margaret Hazel. I am the Principal Librarian for Technology at the Eugene Public Library, Eugene, Oregon. We’ve been working with RFID in our system for about four years now, and while I was brought on board after the library chose to adopt RFID, I got to usher it in and get it actually working.
The work continues.
I am also the list mom for the RFID_Lib email list, for the Tech Logic user group list, and do occasional talks about RFID in Libraries at national and regional conferences, and talks about how to deal with technology changes. Fully employed at Eugene, (and the mom of a one-year-old) I may not post nearly as frequently as Laura was wont to do, but I will do my best to keep information flowing and circulating. I welcome your participation and comments.
Enjoy!
Chaired by Dr. Vinod Chachra of VTLS, the group will focus on interoperability of tags and hardware across vendors. He also emphasized that they must encourage “vertical application isolation among different industries. In other words, we do not want CDs purchased at a store to trigger library security gates and library books to set off alarms at grocery stores. Most importantly, we must achieve these goals while protecting personal privacy.”
The NISO announcement states that the product of this group will be a “best practices document [that]will form a part of a larger input document on U.S, requirements for the ISO TC 46 working group developing a standard data model for encoding information on the tag. The group will also coordinate with American Library Association/Book Industry Study Group working group around the interaction of technology and privacy issues. ”
A post to the SYS_LIB list by Cynthia Hodgson of NISO also says that for more information, you can contact NISO at nisohq@niso.org. Interestingly, this announcement was not posted by her to RFID_Lib, though someone else cross-posted it there.
Good to know the work is in progress. We’ll try to keep it in our sights to report on developments.
My ownership of this domain expires on 4/21/2006. Nobody has offered to take over the blog, so I’m going to let it die a natural death. I am still working on getting the past entries archived, however. Consider this post notification of the blog’s upcoming demise.
I will be starting up a new blog, more in keeping with my new job. More information about that will be forthcoming.
I promised I’d discuss my sporadic postings. Essentially, I only post when something crosses my path which is (a) related to the scope of the blog and (b) new and/or interesting and/or useful.
I’m finding that less new/interesting/useful information is coming my way, which is probably due to the changing nature of my day-to-day job. I’m no longer responsible for anything related to RFID at my place of work. In fact, my job responsibilities have greatly expanded leaving me with less time to keep this blog current. Also, I think that library RFID news has reached a plateau. Those considering adoption can locate the information they require and the concerns about privacy and standards are articulated.
The domain is coming up for renewal soon. In light of that, I’d like to hand the blog over to somebody more immersed in library RFID. If you are interested in taking over this blog, please let me know. Contact me at ljsmart@csupomona.edu. I would prefer that the blog not be taken over by any vendor so that it can keep it’s non-commercial voice. If I don’t have any takers, I will probably stop the blog at the end of April and find somewhere to archive its contents.
In the meantime, I’ll continue posting whenever I deem something relevant. Most likely postings will remain sporadic.
A cool little article from Wired News about artists embedding RFID tags into objects as commentary on ubiquitous wireless. I learned a few new terms courtesy of Bruce Sterling, one of my fave sci-fi authors. Objects with RFID tags are “spime” because they can be tracked through space & time. Apparently Sterling says arphids and not arreffeyedee when pronouncing the acronym. Who knew?
Janice Schuster has posted a description of the Association of College and Research Libraries/New England Chapter, Information Technology Interest Group’s program on Radio Frequency ID technology at the University of Massachusetts-Boston, which took place on 10/28/05.
Tidbits of interest:
“Currently 8% of libraries have RFID; global growth is projected at 30% per year through 2006″ RFID Bill of Rights by Simpson Garfield a description of the conversion process used at Providence College
Another RFID related event at ALA midwinter:
1/21/06 4:00-5:30pm LITA Standards Interest Group Program, Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center - 088B
Part of the program includes updates on new standards. Dr. Vinod Chachra, CEO VTLS Inc. and chairman of the NISO working group on RFID standards will speak on “RFID standards and issues progress reports.”
This will probably be the program of most interest to libraries already using RFID.
According to the Archivalia blog, Haworth Press’ free sample issue of Library & archival security contains articles on RFID. Archivalia is incorrect in stating that there are two articles, however. There are three articles available:
“Radio frequency identification systems for libraries and archives: an introduction”
“Radio frequency identification for security and media circulation in libraries”
“What’s next for the radio frequency library?”
For those of you going to San Antonio for ALA mid-winter, there are a couple of events relating to RFID.
Saturday 1/21/05 1:30-3:30pm The ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC) is sponsoring a hearing on the IFC’s draft “Guidelines for Implementing RFID
Technologies in Libraries.” in the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center, Room 217C.
Sunday 1/22/05 10:30am-12:30pm LITA RFID Interest Group meeting Marriott Plaza San Antonio
SecureID news has a nice summary of pending RFID-related legislation in several states.
Massachusetts – HB 1447, SB 181
PURPOSE: Requires labels regarding use and purpose of RFID on consumer products; requires the ability to remove tags; and restricts info on tags to inventory and like purposes.Maryland – HB 354
PURPOSE: Creates a task force to study privacy and other issues related to RFID and report on whether legislation is needed.Missouri – SB 128
PURPOSE: Requires a conspicuous label on consumer packaging with RFID disclosing existence of the tag and that the tag can transmit a unique ID before and after purchase.Nevada – AB 264
PURPOSE: Requires manufacturers, retailers and others to ensure placement of a label regarding existence of RFID on product prior to sale.New Hampshire – HB 203
PURPOSE: Requires written or verbal notice of existence of a tracking device on any product prior to sale.New Mexico – HB 215
PURPOSE: Requires businesses purveying tagged items to post notices on their premises and labels on the products; requires removal or deactivation of tag at point of sale.Rhode Island – H 5929
PURPOSE: Prohibits state or local government from using RFID to track movement or identity of employees, students or clients or others as a condition of a benefit or serviceSouth Dakota – HB 1114
PURPOSE: Prohibits requiring a person to receive implant of an RFID chip.Tennessee – HB 300, SB 699
PURPOSE: Requires conspicuous labeling of goods containing RFID disclosing existence of RFID and that it can transmit unique information.Utah – HB 185
PURPOSE: Amends computer crime law to include RFID.Texas – HB 2953
PURPOSE: Prohibits school district from requiring student to use an RFID device for identification; requires school to provide alternative method to those who object to RFID.
Welcome to the new readers from the Southern California Innovative Users Group.
As promised, I’m posting the links to my presentation and to my handout. Enjoy!
Business Wire is reporting that 3M is working with the makers of document management software to incorporate RFID into record keeping work.
The RFID Data Model for Libraries was just released by the RFID Data Model for Libraries Working Group last month (July 2005).
The work is spear-headed by Denmark. Danish and European organizations seem to be more cognizant than American companies that standardized RFID tags are critical to the success of library use of RFID.
In a statement issued September 9th, 2004, the Danish National Library Authority set 5 objectives for usage of RFID in Danish libraries:
Hooray! Imagine that…an RFID tag that would actually work during inter-library loan! They’re thinking ahead over there.
So, the working group decided to develop a data model for each tag that would work for all library purposes. They came up with a model that includes space on the tag for the following mandatory pieces of information:
Type of usage:
Number of parts: For example, book with CD would be 2 parts
Original part number: The part number of the book/CD combination.
Primary item ID: Current bar code number
Country of owner library
Owner library
Media format: Used to define items that need special handling (by sorting equipment, for example)
They are also defining optional items in the data model including supplier id, item identification (by supplier), order number, invoice number. Again, anticipating that one day libraries might want to optimize their acquisition process and suppliers might want to use the tags in their own manufacturing and delivery process.
The working group came out very clearly in support of the ISO/IEC 18000 family of standards for air interface standards…a standard I do not believe any of the current vendors follow. Vendors, let me know if I’m wrong about this.
What isn’t ready yet: Application Family Identifiers (AFI):
These are used on the tag to control which tags talk to which interrogators. Some variation of AFIs are used for item security (is this checked out: yes or no) but I’m referring to a international AFI standard here. In other industries (medical, supply chain, etc), they define the AFIs that are pertinent to them. There are no official library AFIs. Nonetheless, Denmark has proposed two library AFIs (checked in, checked out) and though this isn’t yet supported by any of the standards organizations, it’s a start. The idea is that if your tag has a “library AFI” on it, it won’t be read by the scanner at Walmart or the local health clinic. Let’s hope the Danes keep at it.
The working group isn’t taking up privacy issues but they did support and include as Annex C, the ALA’s Resolution on Radio Frequency Identification and Privacy Principles.
I’d like to see more participation in this working group by our own RFID companies. Bibliotheca and Tagsys are members. Checkpoint is nowhere in sight. Wouldn’t it be nice if they got on board?
[submitted by Lori (and cross-posted to mentat)
Christopher Harris over at Informancy has a vision of potential RFID use which he discusses in a post about outsourcing.
Ah ha, you say. How can a librarian in India show a patron in Western NY where a book is located? Well, as we move forward with RFID tags in our books, our shelves are becoming digitally aware of what is on them…and where. When our stacks become networked, that network is accessible in India. When a patron needs to know where a book is located the librarian in India can pull up a “map” of the stacks and print out directions to the exact location of the book - even if it is out of place! Need more help? What about embedding LEDs into the shelves of the stacks. LEDs that are network controlled. LEDs that can be selectively set to blinking in a certain color or pattern as the patron approaches with his or her RFID-enabled library smart card.
Susan from Library Law has a great post discussing SB 682.
From her I learned that UC Merced is going to use RFID in its library cards. They are one of the first universities to incorporate RFID into the specifications they give to their book jobber. For you non-librarians in the audience, a book jobber is our term for companies from which we aggregate some of our book ordering. We can get those books “shelf-ready” meaning they are labeled and security tagged. In this case, that means RFID.
I guess they would think it’s a good thing that the provision barring the UCs and CSUs from having RFID in their library cards was stuck from SB 682.
My reports on RFID sessions from ALA are available on the LITA blog.
Tiny Trackers: Protecting Privacy in a RFID World
Radio Frequency Identification Technology in Libraries - Meeting with the RFID Experts
CILIP, the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (the British equivalent of ALA) is hosting a conference on RFID in Libraries.
The proposed program glaringly omits privacy issues. Perhaps the Brits aren’t having as much controversy regarding RFID. I still find it a bit odd. I know there was consumer outcry in other European countries when RFID was tested in the retail sector. As it stands, the conference seems to assume a pro-RFID stance.
For the record — I’m available to do a talk on the privacy and standards/interoperability issues 