<p>For, nearly two lakh active books (which are used frequently) in the library will have radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. According to Librarian Konnur P V, RFID tags identify objects remotely. If any book is taken out stealthily without being issued, the RFID tag fixed to it will give a signal to the antenna installed at the exit gate of the library. And the <br />tag reader will beep as soon as the holder passes through the gate.<br /><br />Part of an ambitious project to upgrade the library, the RFID tags will cost Rs 12 apiece. But these will not be fixed to the nearly 1.5 lakh passive books (which are used less frequently). They will continue to have barcodes to maintain their records.<br /><br />Bad condition<br /><br />While theft of books is decreasing, it is still a cause for concern for the BU officials. A total of 41,008 books have been missing from the university library ever since it was established. Nearly 24,000 titles are in bad shape as students often cut the “relevant” pages out.<br /><br />“The project was approved by the University Library Committee recently and would be set up in March 2011. It will also help in verifying the stock of the books,” Konnur told Deccan Herald. The library decided to go for RFID tags in order to check book theft and streamline the stock verification.<br /><br />“Checking the stock is particularly cumbersome. It takes months to check all the books, but about two lakh books can be verified in just a day using RFID tags,” Konnur explained.<br /><br />Consequently, there will be no need to check the books individually. Rather, they can be verified in bulk. The hand-held RFID reader can check books in bulk when kept on a cradle.<br /><br />Book drop boxes<br /><br />The RFID tags will also mean that students are spared from the trouble of coming to the library to return the books.<br /><br />“We will keep ‘Book Drop Boxes’ in the university departments located away from the library. Instead of coming to the library to return the book, students can drop it in the box. An antenna reader kept in the box will communicate to the software concerned in the library via the internet. Following this, an SMS will be sent to the student as an acknowledgement that the book has been received,” he explained.</p>
<p>For, nearly two lakh active books (which are used frequently) in the library will have radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. According to Librarian Konnur P V, RFID tags identify objects remotely. If any book is taken out stealthily without being issued, the RFID tag fixed to it will give a signal to the antenna installed at the exit gate of the library. And the <br />tag reader will beep as soon as the holder passes through the gate.<br /><br />Part of an ambitious project to upgrade the library, the RFID tags will cost Rs 12 apiece. But these will not be fixed to the nearly 1.5 lakh passive books (which are used less frequently). They will continue to have barcodes to maintain their records.<br /><br />Bad condition<br /><br />While theft of books is decreasing, it is still a cause for concern for the BU officials. A total of 41,008 books have been missing from the university library ever since it was established. Nearly 24,000 titles are in bad shape as students often cut the “relevant” pages out.<br /><br />“The project was approved by the University Library Committee recently and would be set up in March 2011. It will also help in verifying the stock of the books,” Konnur told Deccan Herald. The library decided to go for RFID tags in order to check book theft and streamline the stock verification.<br /><br />“Checking the stock is particularly cumbersome. It takes months to check all the books, but about two lakh books can be verified in just a day using RFID tags,” Konnur explained.<br /><br />Consequently, there will be no need to check the books individually. Rather, they can be verified in bulk. The hand-held RFID reader can check books in bulk when kept on a cradle.<br /><br />Book drop boxes<br /><br />The RFID tags will also mean that students are spared from the trouble of coming to the library to return the books.<br /><br />“We will keep ‘Book Drop Boxes’ in the university departments located away from the library. Instead of coming to the library to return the book, students can drop it in the box. An antenna reader kept in the box will communicate to the software concerned in the library via the internet. Following this, an SMS will be sent to the student as an acknowledgement that the book has been received,” he explained.</p>