No. 72

TAKING OUR LIBRARIES INTO THE 21ST CENTURY
The ACT Government has committed $1.6 million to improve library technology in the 2007-08 ACT Budget.

Minister for Territory and Municipal Services John Hargreaves said that the funding would be used to implement Radio Frequency Identification technology (RFID), improving the service offered to ACT library users.

“RFID is an innovative method of identifying library materials through remote sensors, replacing barcodes in library applications,” said Mr Hargreaves.

“This technology will allow items to be checked out without staff assistance. Items are scanned and the library’s database is updated, with ‘intelligent gates’ able to identify items that have not been checked out.

“The wireless technology will also allow libraries to scan on-shelf books to assist in the management of collections. 

“RFID will ensure better management of collections, less staff manual effort, increased customer self-service and customer control over loans.

“Libraries of the future will continue to be a community hub for information, as well as for pleasure and recreation, and this new technology will make borrowing books, CDs and DVDs even easier for Canberra’s library users,” said Mr Hargreaves.