RFID IN THE LIBRARY CONTEXT: INTEGRATION, INTEROPERABILITY, AND BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

Marshall BreedingDirector for Innovative Technology and ResearchVanderbilt University LibraryFounder and Publisher, Library Technology Guideshttp://www.librarytechnology.org/http://twitter.com/mbreeding17 Aug 2011

77th IFLA General Conference and Assembly 

Summary

Many aspects of technology supporting the automation of libraries are changing rapidly. Service-oriented architecture, Web-based computing, increased integration of social networking concepts, as well as cloud computing such as software-as-a-service characterize this emerging landscape. Products and services making use of RFID technology have to exist in an automation ecosystem increasingly reshaped by these technologies. Breeding will present a view of how RFID and related technologies fit into this evolving environment, some of the challenges involved such as the need for more modern protocols for interoperability, and some of the opportunities enabled for new efficiencies and innovations. He will also review some of the changes in the global RFID business landscape and comment on its implications for libraries that depend on their products and services.

Library Technology Guides

www.librarytechnolog

y.org

Library Technology Guides

Includes lib-web-cats directory of libraries

Tracks library automation products used by libraries: LMS, Discovery, Link resolvers, etc.

Recently added section on RFID and related products

Interest in collecting data on how these products have been implemented globally

Lib-web-cats Technology Profile

Koha Libraries Worldwide

Lib-web-cats extended for RFID Products

Lib-web-cats tech profile

Annual Industry report published in Library Journal: 2010: The New Frontier 2009: Investing in the Future 2008: Opportunity out of turmoil 2007: An industry redefined 2006: Reshuffling the deck 2005: Gradual evolution 2004: Migration down, innovation up 2003: The competition heats up 2002: Capturing the migrating customer

LJ Automation Marketplace

The New Frontier…

new phase of competition following a period of research and development that aimed to provide alternatives to libraries, both in back-end automation and end user discovery. A variety of new solutions have emerged, often representing quite different conceptual models. In a continued trend, librarians seek solutions that immediately improve the experiences of their users, especially via discovery products.

Phase of realignment in LMS platforms

Strong need to realign library automation with current library realities

Legacy library systems reinforce workflows no longer in step with library priorities.

Need systems that allow libraries to allocate personnel in proper proportion to collection

Separate automation platforms for print and electronic have not proven successful

Key Context: Technologies in transition

XML / Web services / Service-oriented Architecture

Local computing shifting to cloud platforms SaaS / private cloud / public cloud

Beyond Web 2.0: Integration of social computing into

core infrastructure Full spectrum of devices

full-scale / net book / tablet / mobile

Revised library automation priorities

Fundamental assumption: Print + Digital + Social Print-focused models not adequate for modern

libraries Libraries currently moving toward surrounding

core ILS with additional modules to handle electronic content, social engagement, resource sharing, and self-service

New discovery layer interfaces replacing or supplementing ILS OPACS

Working toward a new model of library automation Monolithic legacy architectures replaced by fabric of SOA

applications Comprehensive Resource Management

“It's Time to Break the Mold of the Original ILS” Computers in Libraries Nov/Dec 2007

Working toward more Open Systems

Achieving openness has risen as the key driver behind library technology strategies

Open source Open API’s Demand for Interoperability Libraries need to do more with their

data Ability to improve customer experience

The Shrinking LMS

The Library Management System no longer stands as the single library automation product that provides comprehensive support for all aspects of library operations.

Many libraries putting much less emphasis on LMS

Manages workflows related to physical materials

Investments in electronic content increasing

Management of e-content handled outside of the ILS

Legacy LMS Model

Circulation

BIB

Staff Interfaces:

Holding / Items

CircTransact

User Vendor Policies$$$

Funds

Cataloging Acquisitions Serials OnlineCatalog

Public Interfaces:

Interfaces

BusinessLogic

DataStores

Breaking out of the mold

Academic and Research libraries especially struggle with how to deal with managing increasing proportions of licensed electronic content

Public Libraries seeking technologies that facilitate engagement with their users: social, interactive, dynamic

LMS geared toward print materials New generation of products emerging to

address new and emerging library realities

Interoperability Protocols relevant to RFID

Standard Protocols for access to item and patron data SIP NCIP

Standard Protocols for access to bibliographic data OAI-PMH ILS-DI (Integrated Library System – Discovery

Interface) Standard Protocols for access to other data and

functionality API’s specific to automation platform Generalized set of API’s

SIP: System Interchange Protocol• Initially created by 3M, used widely throughout

industry for self-service and other tasks needing access to patron and item data and status in library automation systems.

• 3M: “Permission is hereby granted to utilize this protocol in hardware and software products but no permission is granted to create derivative works or otherwise modify the protocol” (from ver 2.0 document)

• Version 1: 1993• Version 2: 2006• Version 3: Draft currently under review

NISO Circulation Interchange Protocol

Official Standard designed to operate in the same space as SIP Z39.83

Part 1 approved October 2002; Part 2 Approved Nov 2008

Not widely adopted for self-service More widely used in resource sharing:

interlibrary loan and direct consortial borrowing Open source NCIP Toolkit developed and

released by the eXtensible Catalog project http://code.google.com/p/xcncip2toolkit/

Application Programming Interfaces Automation products cannot exist in

isolated silos APIs provide a set of tools used by

programmers to: Extend Functionality Connect external systems Extract or synchronize data

Proprietary API’s common in LMS space Moving toward open API’s and Web

Services

Benefits of APIs to Libraries

Extensibility Interoperability Allows the LMS to connect with other automation

components Create a matrix of interconnected systems rather

than isolated silos with redundant data and functionality

LMS maturity means similar levels of functionality LMS products increasingly differentiated by extent

and quality of APIs and interoperability support

`

Legacy ILS Model / API

Circulation

BIB

Staff Interfaces:

Holding / Items

CircTransact

User Vendor Policies$$$

Funds

Cataloging Acquisitions Serials OnlineCatalog

Public Interfaces:

Interfaces

BusinessLogic

DataStores

Application Programming Interfaces

Legacy ILS Model / protocol

Circulation

BIB

Staff Interfaces:

Holding / Items

CircTransact

User Vendor Policies$$$

Funds

CatalogingAcquisitions Serials OnlineCatalog

Public Interfaces:

Application Programming Interfaces

Protocols: SIP2 NCIP Z39.50 OAI-PMH

Self-Check

Self-Check

Interlibrary

LoanSystem

Interlibrary

LoanSystem

Legacy ILS Model / External API

Circulation

BIB

Staff Interfaces:

Holding / Items

CircTransact

User Vendor Policies$$$

Funds

CatalogingAcquisitions Serials OnlineCatalog

Public Interfaces:

Application Programming Interfaces / Web Services

Protocols: SIP2 NCIP Z39.50 OAI-PMH

ExternalSystems

& Services

ExternalSystems

& Services

Flexible Interoperability

LMS as Middleware

LMS provides strategic core of automation

Less involved with end-user contact Discovery for Web-based collection

discovery and user services Self-service stations for loans and returns Smart-card and payment systems

Con

solid

ate

d in

dex

Search Engine

Discovery ServiceSearch:

Digital Coll

ProQuest

EBSCO…

JSTOR

Other Resour

ces

Library Services Platform model

`

API Layer

Library Management

System

LearningManageme

nt

LearningManageme

nt

Enterprise ResourcePlanning

Enterprise ResourcePlanning

StockManageme

nt

StockManageme

nt

Self-Check /

Automated Return

Self-Check /

Automated Return

Authentication

Service

Authentication

Service

Smart Cad /

Payment systems

Smart Cad /

Payment systems

RFID Business Environment

Major RFID Companies

2CQR (UK) 3M Library Systems

(also supports Checkpoint) Bibliotheca / Intellident /

Bibliotheca ITG Book-Tech (Taiwan) Convergent Software

(RFID support software, Validation)

D-Tech (United Kingdom) EnvisionWare (diverse

product line including RFID)

Libramation (Canada) Lib~Chip RFID system

Lyngsoe Systems (Sorting systems RFID/Barcode)

mK Sorting Systms (RFID / sorting, self-check, etc)

PV Supa (Finland, Scandinavia)

Shenzen Seaever Inteligent Technology (China – RFID systems)

Swisslog Telelift GmbH (book transportation systems)

Tech Logic (Owned by TLC) VTLS – Fastrack VTLS

division

Consolidation

Transition from a fragmented industry of many small players into one where dominated by large global companies

Many companies continue to prosper that operate within a region or country

Bibliotheca – Intellident – ITG Three former competitors joint to form

new global company Integrated Technology Group – United

States Spun off of Vernon Library Supplies

Intellident Based in the United Kingdom

Ident SAS (French subsidiary) Bibliotheca RFID Systems

Based in Switzerland

New Global Company

Operates regionally under existing brands Bibliotheca ITG / Intellident / Bibliotheca

Global company: Library Solutions BV Majority ownership: One Equity Partners

Shai Robkin

Diversification

Companies involved in RFID tend to offer diversified products, often to different vertical markets

Diverse technologies: RFID, Electromagnetic, software, hardware, manufacturing

Different dependencies on suppliers of RFID chips, etc.

3M Library Systems

Largest player in RFID and self-service Electromagnetic + RFIC products

Major launch into the e-book arena 3M Cloud Library Intends to compete with Overdrive E-book content – licensed through major

publishers Integration layer – leveraging SIP and other

mechanisms developed in support of self-check E-book reader – developed for institutional lending In-library kiosk for discovery and download

Intellectual Property Issues

Patent dispute between 3M and EnvisionWare 3M filed patent infringement suit against

EnvisionWare June 23, 2009 United States Patents involved in the suite

include: 6,486,780, 6,232,870, and 6,857,568 USPTO ruled 6,486,780 patent awarded to 3M

dealing as invalid USPTO review of 6,857,568 still in process Announcement of confidential private

settlement on August 12, 2011

RFID Technology Issues

Privacy Issues

How much information to encode on tags Identifier only? Additional functionality available with

more content Essential to avoid matching materials

information with user User data can be read from non-library

materials No public search of identifiers stored in

tag

RFID Data Encoding Standards• ISO Standards published in March 2011• ISO 28560-1:2011• ISO 28560-2:2011• ISO 28560-3:2011• NISO: Proposed that US libraries adopt

Section 1 and 2 and develop a national profile

RFID & LMS

Can RFID deliver value beyond self-check and AMH?

Need enhanced interoperability models Leverage existing standards and API’s in

the same way that the ILS-DI protocols provided needed support to connect LMS and Discovery products

Provide comprehensive automation model that helps libraries improve service and increase value to their communities

General Observations

Industry maturing with larger and more stable companies

Increased development of Standards Helpful to the extend adopted

Risks of investing in RFID diminishing RFID currently focused on increased

efficiency RFID technologies increasingly

positioned to support more innovative services

Questions and discussion