What are your thoughts on libraries introducing RFID technology Advantages or disadvantages

RFID applications in libraries are becoming increasingly commonplace, with many libraries reaping the benefits of RFID technology during their digital upgrades. The advantages of RFID technology in libraries are becoming increasingly apparent.      

  Improving Self-Service and Enhancing Reader Satisfaction         RFID provides readers with a truly seamless experience, enabling complete openness throughout the library. Firstly, readers needing to search for resources can do so on any computer within the library. Secondly, self-service borrowing and returning machines are located on every floor, offering fully automated operation and eliminating the need for traditional queuing, thus reducing unnecessary waiting time. RFID tags, with their superior performance, overcome the problems of illegible barcodes caused by damage. Furthermore, self-service operation better protects reader privacy, as readers are generally less inclined to disclose their borrowing information and history to others. Leveraging the stable and reliable nature of RFID technology, libraries can provide readers with more consistent and satisfactory services. RFID Enables Readers, Librarians Return to Service        For libraries, services such as reader information inquiries, library card issuance, and document borrowing and returning are routine operations that don't bring disruptive value. If librarians are bogged down in these processes, they can't think about how to better create value for readers. Therefore, the introduction of an RFID system, to some extent, reduces the workload of librarians and unleashes their creativity. Freed from the burden of basic tasks, librarians can focus more on how to conduct activities that are valuable and meaningful to readers, such as reading promotion activities, creating a strong campus reading atmosphere, and guiding correct values.        Solving Inventory Challenges, Ensuring Book Security        Accurate inventory of a library's vast collection is a huge and inefficient task, and one of the biggest headaches for librarians is book inventory. Handheld RFID inventory devices, with a simple scan, can achieve large-scale inventory checks. At the same time, RFID links the book circulation management system and the anti-theft system, greatly improving security. RFID technology also integrates anti-theft access control with self-service borrowing and returning systems, allowing readers to enter and exit the library seamlessly and achieve contactless borrowing and returning.        Although most libraries have widely adopted RFID technology, some problems still exist in its practical application.        Increased Workload        Before using RFID technology for management, libraries first need to system-associate newly purchased books. After new books arrive, an RFID chip needs to be attached to each book, and the book registration process involves writing the book's title, author, ISBN, publisher, and other relevant information into the corresponding chip. Secondly, the books need to be associated with their corresponding shelf tags to achieve book location. Therefore, the use of RFID adds extra steps. Furthermore, if books need to be moved, two additional operations are required within the RFID system: removing them from the old shelf and placing them on the new one.        The Sudden Increase in Costs        Library RFID Core Equipment        Including commonly used security access control systems, librarian workstations, self-service borrowing and returning machines, self-service inventory equipment, and large-scale integrated equipment such as smart bookshelves and smart cabinets. This means that libraries need to invest a large budget to carry out digital and automated transformation. In addition, the large number of electronic tags is also a significant expense. Therefore, libraries need long-term planning. How should they absorb these high costs?        The Differences in Domestic RFID Technology Standards        Currently, there is a lack of standardized specifications for RFID technology in China. Different RFID equipment suppliers produce vastly different results. Without unified technical standards, once an RFID system is implemented, changing suppliers becomes extremely difficult. Therefore, choosing a suitable supplier becomes a risk management issue.        How to Solve Existing Problems?        First, diverse positioning methods can be selected based on the different characteristics of the collection. For specialized stacks, such as those containing older and less frequently updated collections, forced positioning can be used, combined with shelving numbering. For open-shelf book depositories with high circulation and rapid updates, it is recommended to use first-book location tracking. New and returned books can be directly shelved, making management more time-saving and labor-saving.        Secondly, establish unified RFID technology standards. With standards, libraries will be less constrained, and the cost of RFID technology will decrease, effectively promoting the development of RFID libraries.