www.swansea.ac.uk/lis
Collaboration - RFID
Experiences in South West Wales
Mark Hughes
Head of Collections
Swansea University
www.swansea.ac.uk/lis
Agenda slide
1. Background
2. Project planning
3. Drawing up a specification
4. ORILS
5. Procurement
6. Implementation
7. Lessons learned
www.swansea.ac.uk/lis
Background
•HEFCW funding – “South
West Wales Higher Education
Partnership”
•‘Virtual Academic Library
Project’ - c£1 million
•“An holistic approach to
library and information
provision between Swansea
University, Swansea
Metropolitan University and
Trinity College Carmarthen”
www.swansea.ac.uk/lis
Background
• Shared storage facility
• Reciprocal borrowing
• Site delivery service
• Shared discovery
• RFID
www.swansea.ac.uk/lis
Project Planning
•3 institutions
•7 sites
•1.1 million items
•Approx £500k budget
•..over 2.5 years
•18 month timetable
•Dedicated project team
•..just 1 strand of overall project
http://www.gic-edu.com/uploads/PMP1.jpg
www.swansea.ac.uk/lis
Drawing up a specification
•Clear & Comprehensive
•Functions as well as
hardware
•Focus on function NOT
process
•Standards (ISO
28560!)•..the most critical part of
the process..http://www.donationcoder.com/Reviews/Archive/WordProcs/Screenshots/06-word07-spec.jpg
www.swansea.ac.uk/lis
Drawing up a specification
•No UKCS equivalent
•Previous specification
•Shared information
•Improvements to
technology
•‘More than just self
service’
www.swansea.ac.uk/lis
Drawing up a specification
•Background info
•Required hardware
•Required functionality
•Service expectations
•Training & support
•Future development
•Project management
www.swansea.ac.uk/lis
ORILS – Open RFID In Libraries Specification
•A generic specification for RFID
procurement in Libraries
•Based on SWWHEP spec
•Community managed
•Based on Librarian's own
experiences
•Supplier input
•Free to download /use / amend /
copy under CCA licence
•Used 12+ times already
•NAG adoption?http://groups.google.com/group/ORILS
www.swansea.ac.uk/lis
Procurement
•Pre tender site visits
•OJEU ‘Open’ process
•Started April 08..
•‘Pre Tender’ briefing
•Tenders & replies
•Demonstrations
•Written clarifications
•References
•Awarded June 2008
www.swansea.ac.uk/lis
Implementation
• Awarded to 2CQR
•Not cheapest bidder
•Best mix of quality & price
•..additional development
work
•Partners not just suppliers
• Tagging started June 2008
www.swansea.ac.uk/lis
Implementation
• South Wales Miner’s
Library
•Sept 2008
•‘Baby' Unit
•45,000 item stock
•SMU Dynevor Library
•Sept 2008
•‘Kiosk’ Unit
•28,000 item stock
www.swansea.ac.uk/lis
Implementation
• Trinity Carmarthen
•2 x ‘Baby’ units
•Now 1 site only
•162,000 item stock
•SMU Townhill
•107,000 item stock
•SMU Owen
•126,000 item stock
•Both single ‘Kiosks’
www.swansea.ac.uk/lis
Implementation
• Swansea University
LIC
•Sept 2009
• 3 x ‘Baby' Units
• 750,000 item stock
• Automated sorter
www.swansea.ac.uk/lis
Implementation
• RFID Stock 'Wands'
• 1 per institution
• 'Wanda' software
• Stock checking
• Pick lists
•Lost items
•Cataloging errors
• Good value shown!
www.swansea.ac.uk/lis
Implementation
• Snagging List
•Gate monitoring
• Self payment
•By Credit / Debit Card
•By Mifare card
• New SSU interface
• Further stock
management
•..wishlist
www.swansea.ac.uk/lis
Lessons Learned
• The 'Ugly'
• Original RFID Table at SWML
• Interface design
• Extracting data for stock wands
•Mobility of laptops with stock
wands
• 'The 'Bad'
• Security for CDs & DVDs
• Performance of small tags
• Schedules when relying on
development
www.swansea.ac.uk/lis
Lessons Learned
• The 'Good'
• Procurement
• Economies of scale
• Straightforward implementation
• Reliable
• Low maintenance
• Self service popular
•No1. Service in last Student
survey
• Eye catching / profile raising
www.swansea.ac.uk/lis
Thank You
Mark Hughes,
Head of Collections,
Swansea University
http://twitter.com/Mark_H_Swansea
www.slideshare.net/mark_h_swansea