RFID technology helps Taiwan libraries realize intelligent book management

Traditionally, libraries often rely on manual observation and experience to determine the reading of journals. However, this method is not only time-consuming and laborious, but also difficult to accurately reflect the actual reading of journals. Some magazines may be shelved for a long time because no one is interested, while others may be in short supply due to their popularity.

The practice of domestic and foreign libraries shows that the application of RFID technology has triggered revolutionary changes in the entire workflow and management service model of libraries. Some libraries have successfully applied RFID technology to reorganize business processes, significantly improving the automation level and service efficiency of libraries.

As early as 2014, the Fude Smart Library in Taipei adopted RFID technology. Through the RFID tag identification of the library card, people can swipe the card to enter and exit the library. The self-service borrowing machine set up on site can also automatically sense the RFID library card to read the borrowing record or cancel the borrowing, allowing people to handle the library materials and return the books by themselves, and quickly borrow and return books. As long as you bring any document such as your ID Card, driver's license or household registration book, you can apply for a library card. If you want a library card with EasyCard function, you have to bring your EasyCard.

Recently, the Taiwan Public Information Library successfully deployed an intelligent system based on UHF RFID and artificial intelligence, achieving refined management of 600 journals and providing strong support for the library's subscription decisions. The solution installs antennas on magazine racks and affixes passive UHD RFID tags to each journal. These tags have unique ID codes that can be linked to detailed information about the magazine in web-based software. When a reader picks up a journal, the system can immediately detect this action and identify through the software that the journal is being read. The software then updates the journal's status to read and records a timestamp.

In order to capture RFID tags when magazines are put on the shelves, two RFID Readers and eight RFID Antennas are installed on each shelf. Through this solution, the library can not only understand the reading status of each journal in real time, but also analyze readers' reading habits and preferences. For example, the system can identify which journals are the most popular, which journals have the longest reading time, and which journals are frequently read in a specific time period. This information provides the library with valuable decision-making basis, enabling it to adjust subscription strategies according to readers' actual needs, thereby saving costs and better serving readers.

The reservation and self-service book pickup area on the first floor of the Taiwan Public Information Library is a demonstration area for convenient services in smart libraries. It has deployed a "smart RFID bookshelf equipment and reservation and pickup service integration system". Each compartment of the smart bookshelf is equipped with an RFID reader and writer, which can read the RFID tag information in the book and detect its location. The reserved book can be quickly found by using the query machine and the guide light. Through RFID technology, the RFID channel Access Control can prevent non-reserved readers from entering, and at the same time detect whether the borrowing is successful.

RFID channel access control is installed at the entrance and exit of the library to prevent non-reserved readers from taking out the reserved books without authorization;

The touch-operated reservation and pickup service platform and the guide light prompts can shorten the reader's book search time and facilitate readers to complete the reservation and pickup service;

The RFID system management terminal provides daily reservation statistics, which helps librarians grasp the real-time information of the collection on the shelf.