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RFID Library Security System

 

Friday, September 25, 2009
Adi Tedjasaputra.
by Adi Tedjasaputra

The security measures in libraries around the world have evolved along the changing role of libraries in modern society. A lot of things have been tried to tackle the security challenges in libraries. Will RFID technology be able to provide a solution to the security problems faced by modern libraries?

I have been blessed with the opportunity to visit hundreds of libraries in three continents. Some of the interesting ones include a traditional library in Salatiga, Indonesia, the disabled-friendly State Library of Western Australia and the largest library in the Nordic countries, Det Kongelige Bibliotek – The Danish Royal Library in Denmark. Interestingly, all the libraries are all facing similar challenges, i.e. theft (security) and inefficient library management system.

Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) Systems in Libraries

A lot of things have been tried to tackle the security challenges in libraries, including the use of EAS systems, which are nowadays quite common in modern libraries. There are several types of EAS systems, i.e. Radio Frequency (RF), Electromagnetic (EM) and Acousto-magnetic (AM) systems. There is another kind system called Microwave systems. However, since there is only a small number of such systems deployed compared to the other systems, we will not discuss the Microwave systems further.

All EAS systems rely on tags, labels, transmitters and receivers. The RF tags and labels will trigger an alarm if an unauthorized person taking some items tagged or embedded with the tags and labels passes through a pair of transmitter and receiver (gates) tuned to the operating frequency of the tags and labels. High intensity RF pulse will disarm the RF labels. RF tags, on the other hand, are usually reusable and easily detachable by a detacher without any need of disarmament.

Different from the RF EAS systems, the EM EAS systems use high permeable material for the tags and labels, which will generate a signal within an applied electromagnetic field. When someone brings some tagged items near the exit gates, the receiver will sense the signal generated by the tags and labels and activate an alarm. Deactivating the tags is as simple as magnetizing the tags and de-magnetizing for (re)activation.

AM EAS systems work similar to RF EAS system, in which the transmitter sends RF signal to excite the labels and tags. However, at a frequency of 58 kHz in pulses, the transmitter energizes the labels and tags to emit RF signal to be detected by a receiver. Different from EM tags, magnetizing the AM labels and tags will (re)activate them and demagnetizing for deactivation.

Integrated RFID Library System

While all of the EAS systems described have been relatively adequate to deter casual thefts, simple tricks such as the use of magnet, metal or jammer can easily fool the EAS systems. In addition, a study published a couple of years ago reports that EM and AM EAS systems may adversely affect the performance of pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators.

When RFID Library system first introduced more than a decade ago, its main use was only as a better replacement for barcode system in inventory management of library materials. Nevertheless, RFID technology nowadays has matured to a state where it can be used in a fool-proof RFID Library Security System.

The challenges of RFID Library Security System as an anti-theft are similar to the EAS systems, which rely on the physics of electromagnetic field. Despite the intelligence of data transmission and storage, RFID tags and labels are still susceptible from threats such as RF shielding and jamming.

With the advance of RFID technology, the latest RFID Library system is usually equipped with anti-jamming and collision detection features. RF shielding, on the other hand, requires a different strategy that involves integration with RFID Library Management System, physical security and other security technologies.

In the next RFID Asia Journal, you can read about the Integrated RFID Library Management System that provides a solution to the RF shielding threat and improve the efficiency of Library Management System.

The writer is the Founder of RFID Asia - Asia's Leading Independent RFID Knowledge Centre Helping RFID Vendors & End-Users Making Best Investment, Leverage Competitiveness & Market Share.

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