RFID & Patron Privacy

What is RFID?

RFID is a technology that is expected to replace barcodes. Barcodes identify individual items in a collection using a number sequence that links to a database record. Barcodes are staff intensive, requiring staff to be involved in most patron transactions. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)is a way of tracking items using radio waves. Radio waves require no line of sight and are contactless, which has the potential to require no staff/patron contact for many routine transactions.

Tags are placed on each item in the library’s collection. These tags uniquely identify each item similar to a barcode; however, the tags are actually unpowered radio transmitters with an embedded chip that holds information about the item and, in some cases, the patron checking out the book.