Adoption of Radio Frequency Identification Technology in Western Illinois University Library
Literature Review
RFID Implementation Studies
The adoption of RFID technology in libraries is a promising solution for inventory problems. Therefore, this review of literature will analyze studies carried out on the use of RFID technology in libraries. The basis for this study is on the practical application of the RFID technology in libraries and the response of library staff to this technology. An example of a company that has successfully made use of the FID technology is Wal-Mart (Bustillo, 2010). The supermarket chain tags clothes and products with RFID tags that have numerical identification codes. The review of literature explores the findings of these studies on the effectiveness of RFID technology as compared to barcodes.
The research carried out by Brar, Fong and Singh (2006), used a library survey of 29 libraries. The research carried out by Brar, Fong, and Singh (2006) is essential for this study since it focuses on the opinions of libraries on RFID implementation. The study aimed at investigating RFID implementation time and costs, and impact of technology to library operation and security. Of the 29, 26 were public libraries, two academic libraries, and a corporate library. The researchers made use of survey questionnaires administered to the library staff. The results of this survey show that of the 29 libraries only 10 used RFID technology, with 13 of those without in the process of migrating to RFID technology. From the responses, 50% of the participants indicate a greater than 10% increase in the use of barcode after RFID implementation. These participants also indicate that the average check-in and checkout time significantly reduced following the implementation of the RFID system. Brar, Fong and Singh (2006) also indicate that the libraries in the survey felt that though the RIFD technology and barcode system may be expensive, the increase in functionality and efficiency as enough to persuade them to implement the technology. These results are also in the research by Dorman (2002), which show that RFID technology increases inventory and identification capabilities of a library.
These views are also in the study carried out by Fabbi et al. (2005) to investigate the developments and activities of digital materials in libraries. The researchers’ study analyzed 3M digital materials like the product implementation and extended functionality of RFID technology, along with the technology’s benefits to the patron and staff and privacy issues (Fabbi et al., 2005). The research made use of the case study research method analyzes the use of technology in the UNLV library. Analysis of the library indicates that the library increases efficiency in many of its management activities due to the use of digital technologies. The combination of technologies along with RFID system assists the UNLV library to increase efficiency of its inventory and weeding system. Moreover, with increased efficiency the library realizes a positive impact on its users (Fabbi et al., 2005). The research shows that the risk of loss of privacy due to RFID technology does not over weigh the benefits of the technology. This is because 80% of the staff feels their workload is easier with the implementation of the technology. The case study by Fabbi et al. (2005) offers these study practical implications of RFID technology in libraries. Therefore, this research will explore the benefits of RFID technology to library staff.
The benefits of RFID technology to all types of libraries are in various studies across the nation. The survey carried out by Yu (2007) indicates that libraries that have the RFID technology find the technology offers solutions to their inventory problems. The RFID technology makes it easier for librarians to make collections in days rather than in months (Faye, Kruck, & Puffenbarger, 2008). Kern (2004) further shows in an empirical study of that the RFID technology increases security and the circulation of media in libraries. This is useful especially for libraries that make use of electronic library systems that require the added efficiency in inventory of items (Rooney, 2003). The investigation of these studies into the practical application of the RFID technology in libraries forms the basis of this study. This research study finds that these results are vital in explaining the importance of RFID technology implementation in libraries. However, these studies lack in that they do not compare the efficiency of RFID technology over other inventory and collection technologies like the bar code system. This forms part of the research objective of this study as the RIFD technology efficiency is in comparison to that of the bar code system in libraries.
The importance of comparing RFID technology to the bar code system is a research area studies by many academics. The research by Shien-Chiang (2008) tries to extend RFID application in libraries that have limited budgets and funds to replace the traditional barcode and magnetic strip collections management and security systems. To investigate this problem, Shien-Chiang (2008) studies Shih-Hsin University library RFID system and analyzed its application capabilities to positioning collection of books and guiding services of the library. The study makes use of statistical calculations of the RFID system entailing its book reading length and frequency and book guiding services for users (Shien-Chiang, 2008). The study compares these applications of the RFID system with the ability of the barcode and magnetic system to track book reading and book guiding services (Smart & Schaper, 2004). The research’s results are useful for they indicate that the application of RFID technology though costly, is more efficient and useful to libraries, than the traditional barcode and magnetic strip systems.
This is because the RFID technology has the added advantage of providing seeking and positioning of books, increase book tracking and guiding services, which increases security and collection abilities of the library (Michael, 2002). This is also with the experimental study of Golding and Tennant (2010) that show that the RFID technology increases the circulation and inventory management in comparison to the barcode system. This study is necessary for it bridges the gap in the study of RFID technology as it uses a conceptual and empirical study, by studying read distance, tag location, shelf material, and impact on inventory. The results of these studies are essential for this research for they form the foundation of the research.
There is no doubt that there is a need to investigate the ability of implementing RFID technology in the library in improving efficiency. This research finds that there is a need to investigate the implementation of RFID technology in the Western Illinois University Library, by interviewing the staff. This is because as the study of Brar, Fong, and Singh (2006) indicates library staff use of the RFID technology can lead to a better understanding of the functionality and efficiency of the technology. The studies of Brar, Fong, and Singh (2006), Dorman (2002), Fabbi et al. (2005), mostly focused on the efficiency of the system in terms of inventory and collections. This study goes beyond this and investigates the efficiency and functionality of the system as compared to the barcode system. The study of Fabbi et al. (2005) made use of case study analysis, and that of Rooney (2003) investigates various studies and literature reviews. The studies of Yu (2007) and Kern (2004) made use of survey and empirical study respectively to show the application of RFID technology in libraries. To increase the validity and credibility of the results of this study, this research will review credible literature and use results from survey interviews of library staff. This is to close the gap in research by analyzing the efficiency of the RFID system in library services by comparing with the barcode system, easiness of use to library staff, cost effectiveness, and size of the library.
References
Brar, N., Fong, C. and Singh, J. (2006). The State of RFID Application in Libraries. Information Technology and Libraries, 25(1), 24-32.
Bustillo, M. (2010, July 23). Wal-Mart to put Radio Tags on clothes. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 12th November 2012 from http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704421304575383213061198090.html
Dorman, D. (2002). Technically Speaking: New Vendors Heating Up Radio Frequency ID Market. American Libraries, 33(3), 76.
Fabbi, J.L., Marks, K.E., Sylvis, Z. and Watson, S.D. (2005). UNLV Libraries and the Digital Identification Frontier. Library Hi Tech, 23(3), 313-322.
Faye, P. T., Kruck, S.E. & Puffenbarger, E. (2008). RFID: New technology on the horizon for IT majors. International Journal of Business Data Communications and Networking, 4(1), 64-79.
Golding, P. and Tennant, V. (2010). Using RFID Inventory Reader at the Item-Level in a Library Environment: Performance Benchmark. Electronic Journal of Information Systems Evaluation, 13(2), 107-120.
Kern, C. (2004). Radio-frequency-identification for security and media circulation in libraries. The Electronic Library, 22(4), 317-24.
Michael, J. F. (2002). RFID: The next tool for managing records? Information Management Journal, 36(6), 60-63.
Rooney, N. (2003). RFID: Flexible technology for the future. Ohio Libraries, 16(2), 10-13.
Shien-Chiang, Y. (2008). Implementation of an Innovative RFID Application in Libraries. Library Hi Tech, 26(3), 398-410.
Smart, L., & Schaper, L. (2004). Making sense of RFID. Library Journal, , 4-6,8,10,12,14
Yu, S.C. (2007). RFID implementation and benefits in libraries. The Electronic Library, 25(1), 51-64.
