RFID in Libraries

New home for RFID_LIB email list

Margaret — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 00:51:46 +0000

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.

RFID_LIB list potential move

Margaret — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 16:31:33 +0000

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

California and RFID..again

Margaret — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 18:57:23 +0000

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.

Brief Overview of the Industry - by me

Margaret — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 16:40:11 +0000

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.

NIST report on supply chain RFID security recommendations

Margaret — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 18:17:22 +0000

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:

firewalls that separate RFID databases from an organization’s other databases and information technology (IT) systems;

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.

ALA RFID program

Margaret — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 15:28:17 +0000

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.

Welcome back….again. To our new home as an .org

Margaret — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 15:23:37 +0000

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.

ALA’s Don Wood notes EU will write rules on RFID

Margaret — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 17:44:07 +0000

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.

California’s SB 30 - Update

Margaret — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 21:51:55 +0000

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.”

Recommended Occupational Use Best Practices for EMF Exposure and RFID

Margaret — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 20:18:23 +0000

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