12th International CALIBER-2019 Implementation of RFID System... Implementation of RFID System in Modern Libraries: A Study on University Libraries of Assam Krishna Das Abstract Invention of new technologies has drastically changed our traditional methods of livelihood, our thinking and even our education system too. And the Libraries are not so far beyond this change. In early decade books are kept in almirah as prestigious symbol; later it becomes the collection centre of books and now libraries are regarded as the store house of knowledge. Day by day new technolo- gies and terminologies have been included in libraries and library science education. As a result services offered by libraries become updated including its security system also. This paper is based on such a topic which is most reliable and most modern technique related to the library security system and that is the Radio Frequency Identification in short RFID. The paper describes the imple- mentation of RFID in the university libraries of Assam along with some basic findings and sugges- tions. Keywords: Information and Communication Technology, Library Security, Library Staff, RFID 1. Introduction involved in various govt. as well as private organizations. Today, the library is not only confined “Library” the seven letters’ words for common to the traditional books, but includes various types people mean only the storehouse of books. In the of electronic materials, audio video materials etc. age of a technological era we cannot simply accept However appropriate services can only be acquired the library as a storehouse of books; instead it is from the libraries if library resources can be secured. the store house of knowledge. The concept of From the early days to today lots of security library is going through a revolutionary phase due measures have been implemented in the libraries to to proliferation of electronic resources. Our methods reduce the damage of library materials by of producing, organizing and seeking information environment, natural calamities and from by human have been changed drastically with the application errors. of ICT. In this digital era library is not merely considered as a way of preservation of documents Security, in a very simple form, means a risk free or but as the ‘source’ or ‘guide’ for better advancement threat Free State. While security system is literally a of knowledge in the field of prosperity. But, way or method by which a system of interworking gradually this so called ‘source’ or ‘guide’ is not components and devices secures something. In a confined only to the academic institutions, but also Library both library collection and other reading materials can be made secured by installing and 12th International CALIBER-2019 KIIT, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 28-30 November, 2019 implementing physical and environmental security © INFLIBNET Centre, Gandhinagar, Gujarat system and digital data security system. Digital data - 138 - Implementation of RFID System... 12th International CALIBER-2019 security system generally refers to the security transponder or an RFID tag). The antenna enables system of both information and computer security the chip to transmit the identification information to from the unauthorized access of data. While physical a reader. The reader converts the radio waves and environmental security system involves reflected back from the RFID tag into digital traditional as well as electronic security systems. information that can then be passed on to computers Lock and key system, installing grills on windows, that can make use of it. Radio frequency identification single door entry- exit system, signature of every (RFID) is part of the family of Automatic library users etc. can be treated as the traditional Identification and Data Capture (AIDC) security system; on the other hand, CCTVs, RFID, technologies that includes 1D and 2D bar codes. electronic recording, biometrics, smart cards, glass RFID uses an electronic chip, usually applied to a break sensor etc,. are treated as electronic security substrate to form a label, which is affixed to a systems. In today’s context modern libraries which product, case, pallet or other package. The are automated and ICT based service provided information it contains may be read, recorded, or consider RFID as the most secured security system rewritten. for the libraries. Radio Frequency Identification (Source: https://www.rfidjournal.com/faq/show?49). (RFID) is a type of auto-identification technology. This grouping also includes bar codes, optical Radar was created in the U.S. in the early 1930s by character readers, and biometric technologies. Each Scottish physicist Sir Robert Alexander Watson- of these technologies allows the transmission and Watt—to warn of approaching planes while they connection of unique information about an object were still miles away. Radar was refined in the 1940s or person to a set of data. This is achieved by RFID and RFID was developed as a mixture of radar and using radio waves. The main objective of adopting radio wave. RFID-related technology was studied RFID for today's libraries is to increase efficiency in labs in the 1950s. Inventors started to apply radio and reduce costs. Automation and self-service can frequency technology to devices directed at non- help libraries of all sizes achieve these goals, and military markets during the 1960s. Academic RFID has the added advantage of providing security institutions, public laboratories and autonomous for the range of different media available in libraries scientists are all working in the 1970s to create RFID as well. technology. Work at this moment was directed at collecting electronic tolls, monitoring animals and 1.1 RFID- Definition with its brief History vehicles, and automating the plant. RFID was fully RFID can be considered as a generic term of introduced commercially in the 1980s and 1990s. technologies that identifies any object or human The introduction of RFID norms and improved being automatically through radio waves. There are technology led to miniaturisation in the 2000s and several methods of identification, but the most from 2000 onwards RFID is used in various sectors common is to store a serial number that identifies a including libraries to prevent theft. person or object, and perhaps other information, on a microchip that is attached to an antenna (the chip and the antenna together are called an RFID - 139 - 12th International CALIBER-2019 Implementation of RFID System... Fig 1: History and development of RFID in chronological order 1.1.1 Components of RFID from becoming spoiled. The tags are then usually A standard RFID system consists of mainly four covered by the logo labels of the Institute. Tagging parts- is done by placing the tagged book on the reader and the information of the book is tagged onto the RFID tags that are electronically programmed tags using the application of library management with unique information. software. When the book is issued the details from Antenna that provides the vital link between the tag are read into the database by placing the reader and tag, serving as the medium that book on the reader and then the book is issued. In moves data back and forth. case if anyone takes the books without issuing then the reader at the entry exit point beeps sending alarm Reader/coupler which is the link between RFID to the library staff about the unauthorized movement tags and server/ PC. of the book. In case if anyone takes the books Server/PC which is the link between the Reader without issuing then the reader at the entry exit point and library automation system. beeps sending alarm to the library staff about the unauthorized movement of the book. Thus the 1.1.2. The Process of RFID Library Management technology results of a successful decrease in theft System of books. The library employees are generally well trained to deal with this technological setting in RFID implemented library systems. Therefore, library employees are trained in tagging books. Inside the bound cover, the tags are labeled to protect the tags - 140 - Implementation of RFID System... 12th International CALIBER-2019 Fig 2: Diagrammatic representation of RFID implemented Library (Source: https://www.rfid-library.com/) 2. University libraries of Assam: university, twelve state universities and six private universities in Assam. Assam has the largest network of higher education organizations throughout India's North-East region .There are two central universities, one deemed Table 2: RFID Implemented university libraries of Assam Sr. No University Name Year of Est. Status Library Name 1. Cotton University 1901 State Dr. Surjya kumar Bhuyan Library 2. Gauhati University 1948 State Krishna KantaHandique Library 3. Dibrugarh University 1965 State LakshminathBezbaruah Central Library 4. Assam Agricultural 1969 State Reverand B M Pugh Central Library University 5. Assam University 1994 Central Rabindra Library 6. Tezpur University 1994 Central Central library, Tezpur University 7. Central Institute of 2006 Deemed Central Library, Central Institute of Technology, Kokrajhar Technology, Kokrajhar 8. Krishna KantaHandique 2007 State Central Library,KrishnaKantaHandique State Open University State Open University 9. Assam Don Bosco University 2008 Private Assam Don Bosco University library 10. Bodoland University 2009 State ManoranjanLahari Central Library, Bodoland University - 141 - 12th International CALIBER-2019 Implementation of RFID System... 11. Assam Down Town University