Research on RFID technology and RFID systems in library services

　　According to research and analysis, there are currently more than 10,000 libraries nationwide, and most libraries have transitioned from purely manual management to digital management models using barcode recognition, computer networks, and computer software technologies. Although many modern technologies have been adopted, numerous issues still trouble library management and staff. For example, issues such as self-service book borrowing and returning, quick inventory and search, and disorderly shelves have not been well resolved, hindering libraries from further improving management and service levels. The library community is also constantly striving to find a more advanced technology to fulfill their urgent aspirations.

　　1 Overview of RFID Technology

　　1.1 RFID Technology Concept

　　RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is translated into Chinese as Radio Frequency identification. It automatically identifies target objects and acquires relevant data contactlessly via radio frequency signals, requiring no manual intervention. It can identify specific targets and read and write related data via radio signals, without the need for mechanical or optical contact between the identification system and the specific target. The earliest applications of RFID date back to World War II, mainly to identify friendly aircraft. RFID electronic tags mainly come in three types: coil type, microstrip surface-mount type, and dipole type. RFID antennas for short-range application systems with operating distances less than 1 m generally use simple and low-cost coil antennas, operating in the mid and low frequency ranges. Application systems operating over distances above 1 meter require microstrip surface-mount or dipole RFID antennas, operating in high-frequency and microwave frequency bands. RFID tags offer advantages that barcodes do not have, such as waterproofing, magnetic resistance, high temperature resistance, long service life, long reading distance, data encryption on the tag, large data storage volume, and the modifiability of stored information. RFID readers and writers are also divided into mobile and fixed types. Currently, RFID technology is widely used, such as in libraries, access control systems, and food safety traceability.

　　1.2 Advantages of RFID Technology

　　RFID technology can recognize high-speed moving objects and simultaneously recognize multiple tags, making operation quick and convenient. Short-range RF products are not afraid of harsh environments such as oil stains and dust contamination, and can replace barcodes in such environments, for example for tracking objects on factory assembly lines. Long-range RF products are mostly used in transportation, with recognition distances reaching tens of meters, such as automatic toll collection or vehicle identity verification. The benefits RFID brings to libraries include readers self-borrowing, 24-hour self-service book returns, rapid inventory counting, fast and accurate database checks and updates, automatic sorting, automatic shelving and shelving, encrypted data storage, high security, enhanced theft prevention, smooth circulation of audio-visual products, improved modern library management, and seamless integration with library infrastructure and library systems (ILS). A complete RFID system consists of three parts: the reader, the electronic tag (TAG), which is also known as the transponder, and the application software system. Its working principle is that the reader emits radio wave energy at a specific frequency to the transponder, driving the transponder circuit to send out the internal data. At this point, the reader sequentially receives and interprets the data. Send it to the application for appropriate processing. RFID middleware needs to provide transparent tag reading and writing capabilities. The main issues are: (1) Compatible with interfaces of different readers; (2) Identify the structures of different tag memories for effective read/write operations. From the perspective of communication and energy sensing methods between RFID card readers and electronic tags, they can be roughly divided into two types: inductive coupling and backscatter coupling. Generally, low-frequency RFID uses the first method, while high-frequency RFID uses the second method. Depending on the structure and technology used, a reader can be a read/write device, serving as the information control and processing center of RFID systems. A reader typically consists of a coupling module, transceiver module, control module, and interface unit. Generally, half-duplex communication is used between the reader and the transponder for information exchange, while the reader provides energy and timing to the passive transponder through coupling. In practical applications, further management functions such as object recognition information collection, processing, and remote transmission can be achieved through Ethernet or WLAN. The transponder is the information carrier of the RFID system. Currently, most transponders consist of coupling components (coils, microstrip antennas, etc.) and microchips as passive units.

　　1.3 Development Trends of RFID Technology

　　Electronic tags (RFID) serve a dual purpose: on one hand, they serve as identity recognition, used to track and count items; On the other hand, it is used for the safety protection of items. In other words, RFID combines identity recognition and anti-theft functions. This feature of RFID greatly enhances data processing capabilities, allowing the data circulation process to be completed quickly and accurately with a simple single operation. Historically, the development of RFID technology can basically be divided into several stages according to the ten-year cycle. Therefore, RFID is not a brand-new technology. Currently, the industry is most focused on RFID technology in the mid-to-high frequency band, especially long-distance RFID technology in the 860~960 MHz (UHF band), which is developing the fastest; The 2.45 GHz and 5.8 GHz bands, due to product congestion and susceptibility to interference, are technically relatively complex, and their related research and applications are still in the exploratory stage. An RFID system consists of a Tag chip, antenna, and card reader, which receives information and transmits it to the computer system for processing. RFID is an independent field that integrates various interdisciplinary professional technologies, such as high-frequency technology, microwave and antenna technology, electromagnetic compatibility technology, semiconductor technology, data and cryptography, manufacturing technology, and application technology. This is one of the most promising information technologies of this century, highly valued and widely developed and applied worldwide. A new identification technology that uses smart electronic tags to identify various items. These tags are produced based on the RFID (Radio Frequency Identification System) principle, which embeds microchips into the product. Tags and readers exchange information via wireless radio frequency signals. Compared to barcode technology, RFID can save more time, manpower, and resources, reduce production costs, and improve work efficiency. It is increasingly regarded as the replacement of barcode technology, and electronic tags are the ultimate product for the future tag market. 　　

      1.4 Development Trends of RFID Technology in Library Management

　　Initially, in the technical field, a transponder referred to an electronic module capable of transmitting and replying to information. In recent years, due to the rapid development of RF technology, transponders have gained new terms and meanings, also known as smart tags or tags. Smart tags, more precisely, are an innovation in RF tags, consisting of sticky tags and ultra-thin RF tags. Smart labels combine RF technology with the convenience and flexibility of label printing. Smart labels with read/write functions can be programmed multiple times and follow the encoding patterns set when the label was originally made. Electronic tags can be classified by frequency into low-frequency tags, high-frequency tags, ultra-high frequency tags, and microwave tags. According to different packaging forms, they can be divided into credit card labels, linear labels, paper labels, glass tube labels, round labels, and special-purpose irregular labels. RFID readers (readers/writers) wirelessly communicate with RFID electronic tags via antennas, enabling reading or writing operations on tag identification codes and memory data. A typical reader includes a high-frequency module (transmitter and receiver), a control unit, and a reader antenna. RFID offers features that barcodes cannot provide, such as batch reading, erasable data, and real-time response. Technologies applying this feature can provide various contactless management methods within the library, including data on readers and collections. In recent years, libraries have used RFID to replace barcode recognition. Combined with RFID's rapid response and contactless features, operational efficiency and accuracy are improved, yet the essence of the service model remains unchanged.

　　1.4.1 Self-service borrowing and returning system to improve circulation efficiency

　　Modern libraries have undergone profound changes in service content and service methods, shifting from traditional libraries to service-oriented digital libraries. Modern libraries have gradually shifted from paper resources to digital resources, from in-library borrowing to remote access, from on-site services to online services, from single services to diversified services, from providing documents to offering multi-media activities, achieving a major shift from book-centered to people-centered. Traditional library borrowing processes are relatively complex, with heavy workloads, massive anti-theft supervision, and high labor costs. When a reader enters the library to borrow a book, they need to manually check at the service desk, then go to the corresponding bookshelf to find the book, take it to the borrowing desk for registration, and manually demagnetize the book. Only after borrowing can the book pass through the library's security antenna and complete the entire borrowing process. Based on RFID technology, the self-service borrowing and returning system allows readers to borrow books directly through the system without demagnetizing the books or carrying them through the library's security antenna. The RFID technology-based self-service borrowing and return system can provide services such as self-service book borrowing, self-service returns, self-service document processing, book pickup appointments, pre-sorting and inspection of book returns, visual browsing interface conversion/PDP book browsing, real-time data interaction with the central library, and automatic book listing notifications. The self-service borrowing and return system offers multiple language interfaces, enabling multiple book borrowing and returning services at once. It uses a touch-based human-machine interface with offline processing capabilities, offers color options that harmonize with the library's on-site environment, and improves the efficiency of book borrowing circulation.

　　1.4.2 Intelligent Shelving System Greatly Improves Library Work Efficiency

　　Relying on manual book inventory work, especially for bookshelf books, is too heavy and inefficient. Librarians must rely on their own memory to classify, place, and record books, which is time-consuming and exhausting, but difficult to achieve. The intelligent shelf system based on RFID technology mainly consists of a circulation and loan-and-return system, a document positioning system, and a document archiving system. By establishing shelf location markers and building an intelligent application environment, it enables document positioning and navigation. Book shelving is flexible and diverse, supports full self-service implementation, and solves problems such as misaligned or disorderly shelving of books, document shelving and arranging, and automatic addressing. This greatly reduces the manual workload of library staff, significantly lowers error rates, and greatly improves work efficiency.

　　1.4.3 Change lending management to enhance the development and utilization of documents

　　Traditional library staff have low work enthusiasm, lower efficiency, and a large number of reader complaints. Some staff, even those who have worked in libraries for many years, lack a sense of service and generally believe library work is ordinary, simple service work; Slightly older library staff lack service skills, are unfamiliar with professional service skills such as computers, document processing, and reference consultation, and are also unwilling to strengthen their studies; Although most libraries have rich collections, most staff lack skills in developing and utilizing them. Although the collections are rich, their utilization rate needs improvement. Using RFID technology, documents can be digitally processed and deeply processed from digital resources. Digitizing documents such as processing ordinary paper documents, rare ancient books, micro-document processing, audio-video processing, and processing of special resources (such as maps and oracle bones) ensures effective documents are properly handled and promoted. For in-depth processing of digital resources, extraction can be made from digital resource knowledge points, standardizing and linking the carriers of personal and place name versions, reorganizing a certain knowledge structure, organizing and developing secondary digital literature, and establishing a thematic concept system knowledge base.

　　1.4.4 Change management and work models to improve job satisfaction

　　How readers evaluate the service attitude, efficiency, and level of library staff is an important criterion for evaluating the service quality of library staff. The library's management philosophy and methods affect staff satisfaction. To improve employee satisfaction, effective management of libraries must be carried out legally, reasonably, and appropriately.

　　Systematic management of the entire library based on RFID technology will greatly reduce the repetition and monotony of library staff's work, fully freeing their hands, making their work less monotonous and more time-consuming to research and utilizing new business areas. This will improve staff job satisfaction, thereby enhancing readers' satisfaction with library work. By utilizing RFID technology systems, library management can be strengthened and reader needs met.

　　2. Application of RFID technology in automatic collection identification management systems

　　2.1 Design Ideas for RFID Library Management Systems

　　Modern libraries differ greatly from those in ancient and modern ones. (1) The content of the collection has changed significantly. For modern libraries, the rapid development of publishing after World War II has led to the continuous emergence of new forms of literature. The collections of modern libraries are no longer limited to books and manuscripts. Periodicals, newspapers, microliterature, audiovisual materials, and a large amount of non-book materials all enter the library's collection. (2) With the diversification of literature types, the methods of handling literature have changed. (3) Modern libraries no longer regard "documents" as the core of their work; "service" has become the core philosophy of modern library operations. The entire working mechanism of modern libraries is reader-oriented, with every aspect of their business connected to reader services. Information technology is the main technical support of modern libraries. The collection of books and documents is the most fundamental resource entity of libraries, and the provision of documents is the library's primary service content. Currently, system-ALEPH500 is widely used in domestic library management systems, with open link standards and OAIS standards. It uses UNIX as the platform, Oracle database as the backend, and Sun Xiaoji as the server. By utilizing RFID wireless RFID technology, solving these problems becomes relatively easy. Functions such as quick borrowing and return, high-speed inventory, quick search, positioning, shelving, shelving, shelving, shelving, and sorting are all possible.

　　2.2 Structure and Features of RFID Library Systems

　　2.2.1 Structure of RFID library systems

　　Modern libraries generally begin to build their documentary resources based on the principle of balancing physical and virtual collections, and balancing print and digital collections. Information resource services are centered on physical libraries, with network services as the mainstream. The RFID library system consists of hardware, computer-integrated devices, and software. Data exchange is carried out via network connection or data copying. The connection between the terminal software and the library management system service center complies with relevant library industry protocols and computer network protocols. The software consists of two parts: system software and custom R&D software. The system software includes a database management system, application middleware, and OCR software for text recognition.

　　2.2.2 Features of RFID Library Systems

　　Library systems based on RFID technology make interlibrary lending more convenient in network environments, and their support is also a major part of library information sharing services. Therefore, specific evaluation indicators should include: the number of member libraries, the number of resources obtained by services, efficiency, fee standards, and also calculate the satisfaction rate of interlibrary lending, document transmission speed, and so on.

　　3 Conclusion

　　Information technology is the main technical support of modern libraries, and the benefits RFID brings to libraries are obvious. Ultimately, these benefits boil down to "strengthening library management and meeting reader needs."

　　References

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　　[2] Shi Hao, Li Zhengping. RFID-Based Attendance System Design [J]. Journal of North China University of Technology, 2011(3).

　　[3] Xiyujiu. Electronic Tag (RFID) Technology and Its Frequency of Use [J]. China Radio, 2004(12).

　　[4] Tang Zhijun. Study on Antennas and Propagation Characteristics in Passive Backscatter RFID Systems [D]. Hunan University, 2010.