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Library says RFID tagging project nearly complete, gates planned for March
Summary
Library staff reported the RFID tagging project is nearly finished, with item labeling nearly complete and entry/exit gates expected to be installed in March; staff warned the system is not perfect and flagged privacy limits for cross-jurisdiction tracking.
Library staff told the board the radio-frequency identification (RFID) project is nearing completion and is expected to bring faster inventory and automated check-in/out capabilities. The director said technical staff are close to finishing labeling items and that the gates are planned for installation in March after a short delay from the previously scheduled Feb. 18 date.
The director described two parts of the project: tagging items so inventory can be completed in hours rather than days and installing gates and self-check stations that read stacked items. She cautioned that the technology is imperfect — a stack of multiple items can sometimes be missed — and staff do not plan to use the system to track patrons across jurisdictions without careful privacy review.
Board members asked practical questions about how the system works (whether it will scan stacks of books or items in bags, and whether it can tell if a book leaves the building without being checked out). The director said the system will flag items leaving without being checked out and that the self-check platforms are already installed though some displays read 'out of order' while final setup continues. Staff noted other nearby libraries use similar systems and reported good results with automation features.
Installation timeline: gates expected in March; staff said they will continue setup and testing before broad automation features are activated.
