RFID utilization in libraries : the benefits, challenges and future directions

Author

Abu Shanab, Imad

Source

المكتبات و مراكز المعلومات في بيئة رقمية متغيرة المؤتمر الدولي الأول الذي أقامته جمعية المكتبات و المعلومات الأردنية بالتعاون مع جامعة البلقاء التطبيقية و بدعم من صندوق دعم البحث العلمي بمناسبة اليوبيل الذهبي للجمعية خلال الفترة 29-31 / 10 / 2013

Publisher

Jordan Library and Information Association

Publication Date

2013-10-31

Country of Publication

Jordan

No. of Pages

16

Main Subjects

Library Sciences

Topics

• Conferences

English Abstract

Finding what you want in a library and managing bookshelf contents is a tedious process that involves many challenges that are caused by shelving mistakes, accidental movements, and purposeful hiding or concealing of books.

Such practices by librarians and users of library resources make book shelves management a hard task.

Utilizing available technologies to concur such dilemma is important and saves huge amounts of money and efforts for librarians and users.

Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology can help in finding books, sorting and discovering the misplaced books in libraries, increasing staff efficiency, improving staff control, and better inventory management.

Once implemented it can help libraries control book distribution and help in tracking books and objects.

Also, within the library boundaries, it is important to know in an exact scientific method the location of diverse resources.

On the other hand, RFID technology suffers from many challenges and limitations and even some ethical issues.

The applicability of this technology and its perceived contribution to libraries are questioned.

Also, it is relatively still higher in cost than traditional techniques like barcodes.

This paper will review the literature regarding the use of this technology, its existing application in libraries, its challenges, limitations, and ethical issues involved in implementing it. The work will be tentatively divided into five major sections: first, the nature of the technology and its implications will be explored by reviewing existing literature and reports.

Second, the existing applications within the library context and real life cases from reported literature will be depicted.

Third, the challenges facing the implementation process of such technology in libraries will be synthesized and -summarized.

Fourth, the limitations and the ethical issues involved in implementing such technology will be explored.

A summary of findings and recommendation will be included at the end.

Data Type

Conference Papers

Record ID

BIM-437668

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