This document discusses three areas of concern regarding RFID in libraries: privacy, communications/interoperability, and near field communication (NFC). Regarding privacy, it outlines EU mandates and standards for signage and privacy impact assessments. On communications, it discusses the need for interoperability between systems and standards like the Library Communication Framework (LCF). Finally, it covers opportunities and risks of NFC and mobile apps reading library tags. The document recommends libraries encourage suppliers to support standards like LCF and consider NFC capabilities when selecting systems.

1. LibraryRFIDLibraryRFID
Issues in Library RFID –
Executive Briefing
Mick Fortune
27th January 2015

2. LibraryRFID Three Areas of Concern
• Privacy
• Communications/Interoperability
• Near Field Communication

3. LibraryRFIDLibraryRFID
Privacy

4. LibraryRFID EU Mandate M436
• Published in 2008
• Made recommendations on:
– Signage
– Privacy Impact Assessments (PIA)
• Standards EN 16570 & EN16571
published in 2014 signal EU intentions for
M436.
LibraryRFID

5. LibraryRFID EN 16570 & 16571
• EN 16570 – Defines type of signs to be
displayed, and privacy statement to
accompany them
• EN 16571 – Sets out criteria for carrying
out a Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA)
• Commercial companies are promoting PIA
software to librarians.

6. LibraryRFID Time to Panic?
• No. The mandate is a recommendation –
not a law.
• Different member states will respond in
different ways.
• UK ICO states it has no intention of
legislating at the moment.
• BIC developing guidance for librarians

7. LibraryRFID BIC?
• Book Industry Communication (BIC)
– a charity for everyone involved with books.
– Funded by members including the
Booksellers and Publishers Associations, CILIP,
and the British Library

8. LibraryRFID BIC’s Response
• Guidance being prepared for librarians
wanting to respond to EN 16570 and
16571
• Regular liaison with ICO to monitor their
intentions in regard to M436
• BIC’s RFID Privacy committee meets
quarterly to review situation.

9. LibraryRFIDLibraryRFID
Communications/Interoperability

10. LibraryRFID The Problem
• RFID (and other 3rd party applications)
mostly use 3M’s SIP protocol to
communicate with LMS.
• SIP is limited in scope (to circulation) and
is no longer being developed by 3M.
• Some suppliers returning to proprietary
solutions to develop new services (e.g.
APIs)
LibraryRFID

11. LibraryRFID The Library Communication
Framework (LCF)
• Industry initiative led and managed by BIC
• Data “framework” of elements and values
used in library systems
• LCF Panel processes new requests rapidly
• LCF Tech Group oversees the development
of the framework and work of panel.
• All available online for developers and
users alike.

12. LibraryRFID What can you do?
• All major UK RFID suppliers already
support LCF.
• Encourage your LMS supplier to join in.
• Ask for LCF accreditation in system
tenders (accreditation scheme for
suppliers to be published in Q2 2015)
• Join in yourselves!

13. LibraryRFIDLibraryRFID
Near Field Communication

14. LibraryRFID What is it?
• Near Field Communication (NFC) is
another version of RFID
• Close range only but uses same frequency
as library RFID systems
• Already in many smartphones (incl iPhone
6)
• Potential for good…and bad.

15. LibraryRFID Things to consider
• Apps to read and write data to library tags
using phones and tablets are freely
available.
• But – wholesale changes difficult (and
unlikely?)
• And opportunities for new services being
created.

16. LibraryRFID BIC – The advert!
• BIC is the nearest thing we have to a UK
standards body for libraries
• Manages EDI clinics, categorisation
schemes (Thema), data and
interoperability standards
• Run by librarians for librarians – working
directly with suppliers
• Find out more at www.bic.org.uk

17. LibraryRFID
Thank You!
e: mick@libraryrfid.co.uk
w: http://www.libraryrfid.co.uk
t: +44 7786 625544
: @libraryrfid
LibraryRFID