What is the value of using RFID in the field of books?

Current situation of the book and archive market

In 2002, the National Library of Singapore was the world's first library to adopt RFID technology in its library management system; Later, with the popularization of RFID technology, in 2004, libraries in Nordic countries began to widely use RFID technology (Denmark, Norway, etc.); In 2006, European libraries also began using RFID technology; In 2007, American libraries began discussing the application of RFID technology in libraries. In China, the Chengyi College Library of Jimei University is the first library to deploy an RFID system. It was put into use in February 2006, marking a milestone in the application of RFID in Chinese libraries. Its successful operation provides reference for other libraries and has far-reaching significance.

The application of RFID in the book and archive market is one of the earlier large-scale application scenarios of RFID. As of 2023, municipal libraries in first and second tier cities in China, as well as library management in universities and RFID, have successfully been applied on a large scale, with a penetration rate of over 70% nationwide.

The library management uses RFID, which can achieve efficient management of books. For example, RFID technology can be used for automated management of libraries, including book borrowing, return, inventory, etc. At the same time, RFID technology is gradually emerging in the field of archive management. For example, RFID technology can be used for automated archive management, including archive storage, retrieval, borrowing, etc., mainly applied in scenarios such as universities, public security organs, and administrative offices. At present, the shipment volume of archive cabinets is in a stage of rapid growth, maintaining an annual growth rate of about 30%.

The Value of RFID in the Book and Archive Market

① Improve the efficiency of book management and inventory, and collaborate on the positioning of books

Using RFID in the library can achieve fast borrowing and returning of books in the library, and improve the level of humanized services. Traditional book inventory requires manual work, and sometimes the positioning of books can only reach the bookshelf. Data management is not timely, and it often takes a long time for customers to find specific books. By using RFID to manage books, it is possible to accurately locate books and improve management efficiency.

② Reduce the number of management personnel in libraries and other places, and lower operating costs

In traditional libraries, each book partition requires a staff member to assist in borrowing, returning, and finding books. By using RFID to manage books, it is possible to create one workbench at a time, and manage book partitions on a workbench basis, thereby reducing the operating costs of the library.

③ Linking and tracking library collections to reduce the occurrence of book loss incidents

The combination of RFID and anti-theft doors can reduce the problem of book loss. At the same time, RFID is bound to books, and through the data platform, it can quickly correspond the borrowing time and corresponding customer information of books, reminding customers to return books in a timely manner on the platform.

④ Guide, identify, track, inventory, manage paper materials such as archives and files

Archive management is a rapidly developing application scenario in recent years. Although paper reports from public security, procuratorial and judicial organs, hospitals, and financial institutions are currently undergoing digital storage, there is still a significant demand for management of paper reports, requiring backup. This has brought a lot of development space for RFID filing cabinets.

⑤ Provide a new book business model and add new solutions for unmanned management

The self-service micro libraries that have emerged in recent years are widely used in community corners, primary and secondary schools, urban study rooms, and party schools and military staff study rooms. By standardizing the management of books through RFID, 24-hour book borrowing and returning management can be achieved, making the library smaller, more convenient, and more intelligent.