Modern libraries take the repetitive tasks from the librarians’ shoulders and put in charge the clever software & machines instead of them. RFID is a technology which bring together in the librarians benefit the innovator equipment and next generation library software. TinREAD is such software.


Two kinds of standards affect RFID. Hardware or technology standards address equipment issues; software or application standards address the arrangement and handling of the data that is handled by the equipment. Several years ago, the International Standards Organization (ISO) began to establish RFID technology standards that affect RFID applications in different settings—such as security access, payment systems, retail stores and libraries.

These technology standards address the communication between the tags and the readers; they do not address RFID tag or equipment quality or reliability.

One of these ISO RFID technology standards—known as ISO 15693—addressed contactless integrated circuit devices, which are sometimes called proximity cards. These are used for security access or payment systems. These applications are typically designed to identify people, but some manufacturers saw that the same standards could be applied to the identification of items. Some early item identification applications were based on ISO 15693.

Eventually, ISO developed a new series of standards—the ISO 18000 family—that addresses how tags and readers communicate in a number of item identification applications. One of these, ISO 18000 Part 3, identifies 13.56 MHz as the frequency for tag-reader communication in these applications. ISO 18000 Part 3 Mode 1 is the type of tag commonly used in many of these applications, including libraries.

These hardware standards are obviously necessary, but they are not sufficient to allow interoperability among libraries. Setting the communications frequency ensures that the reader and tag are on the same wavelength. This is similar to presetting a car radio to a favorite station. It does not address the “language” of what’s being broadcast, though. For RFID systems to work together, the language also needs to be standardized.

Another feature an Application Family Identifier, or AFI, code. Note: fixed data models can have also the AFI like e.g. the Danish or Finish model. Also 15961 + ISO 18000-3 mode 1 includes info about AFI.

The AFI code serves several purposes. It was originally developed to distinguish applications, so that a tag will respond to a reader only if the AFI codes match. This eliminates interference between applications. For example, it ensures that an airport baggage-handling RFID system reads and responds only to baggage-handling RFID tags and not to the tag in a library book packed within a suitcase.

In addition, several RFID vendors use the AFI as a security mechanism. There are two AFI codes, one for items that are checked in and another for items that are checked out. When a patron takes an item through the library’s security gates, the system asks the tag to respond if it has not been checked out. If it responds, the alarm will sound. The AFI is not part of user data elements that are allocated for library application, it is part of the systems memory of the tag.

In 2011, ISO 28560, the RFID in Libraries Data Model and Encoding Standard was published. It is composed of three parts. Part One describes the data models and data elements while Parts Two and Three provide for two options for encoding the data on the tags.

If you are using what the vendors have generally referred to as “ISO compliant” tags, then you probably have the right physical tags. Up until now, when they have said “ISO compliant,” they were generally referring to ISO 15962. If you don’t even have “ISO compliant tags” (ISO 15962)….well, you will probably have to re-tag your material in order to be on a compliant system.

TinREAD RFID Integration Module is take account of all this standards and help you to do some great things with:
  • Sorting
  • Weeding
  • ILL
  • Shelf-checking
  • Inventory

Inventory is developed in Cataloguing Module, ILL is an independent module, and sorting using RFID is integrated with TinREAD searching.

TinREAD inventory functionality take benefit mostly from integration with RFID through RFID Integration Module. Many technical RFID equipment need this specific module. Among them we can mention RFID conversion workstation and cordless handheld devices (like digital library assistant).

On the other hand SIP2 Module of TinREAD is a communication module, but different from Z39.50 TinREAD Module. The Standard Interchange Protocol (SIP) is a proprietary standard for communication between library computer systems and self-service circulation terminals. Although owned and controlled by 3M, the protocol is published and is widely used by other vendors. Version 2.0 of the protocol, known as "SIP2", is a de facto standard for library self-service applications.

SIP is a protocol in which requests to perform operations are sent over a connection, and responses are sent in return. The protocol is specifying the format of the messages sent over the connection (messages to check books in and out, to manage fee payments, to request holds and renewals, and to carry out the other circulation operations of a library). TinREAD SIP2 Module is used in conjunction with TinREAD RFID Integration Module in order to obtain the full power of new high-tech library equipment. But, TinREAD SIP2 Module can be used alone for library self-service equipment which is using older technologies like barcode and/or electromagnetic (EM).