Feb 01,2007_Essex County Council Libraries and its innovative RFID Project was highly commended in the Award category of Local e-Government excellence: Efficiency in the e-Government National Awards 2006 . It is a case study in best practice.

Essex Libraries, in partnership with its strategic ICT partner BT, has built on its early adoption of RFID self service technology to extend transformation of its service delivery from an existing 4 to a further 31 installations between January 2006 and March 2007. To date, all libraries have gone live on schedule and within budget.

The outcomes? Staff are no longer passive book-stampers but active customer advisers; library layouts have been
re-thought using retail techniques to become more customer-friendly; buildings are clearly branded with brighter ambience.

Not only that, but the library service is also able to make its required contribution to Gershon efficiencies.

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) a generic term for technology that uses radio waves to automatically identify people or objects.

The key benefit of RFID in Essex libraries to date has been to provide easy to use self service for customers. The business case for this project was based on achieving at least 50% take-up by the public, enabling 50% of staff time currently used for counter routines to be freed up for other purposes - a combination of savings to contribute to Gershon efficiencies and the costs of the technology, and re-investment in the service to enable new ways of working and other benefits such as extended opening hours.

This target has been met and consistently exceeded by each library going live so far, as the public discover how easy and convenient the technology is to use. In August, the average for all live libraries was 63.7% of loans and 77.9% of returns were dealt with via self service. Consequently, more staff time is now available for re-investment in the service, providing more opportunity for one-to-one support and advice for borrowers.

Not only that, but the technology has also enabled the service to re-address a number of other fundamental elements of public library service delivery - stock presentation, library layout, and partnership working using space freed up by the removal of large, traditional library counters.

As a result, use of RFID has resulted in a new vision for Essex libraries: 'An Essex RFID library will be: Welcoming Easy to use Stimulating Contemporary With staff at all levels, including front line and senior management, working with customers in a proactive manner to ensure that every customer transaction with Essex Libraries is positive and delivered by staff who are clearly enjoying their work.'

Following the go live at Loughton Library in March 2006, the feedback from customers has highlighted its success there: 'Wonderful and quick check in and out service. Fun and efficient' R Drew 'What a great idea!!! Easy to use' S Jameson

'A great improvement, and the staff as usual are very helpful.' E Harper 'We find the facilities and layout very convenient. Attractive ambience.' G Segal

An interview held by the Head of ECC libraries with BBC Essex at Witham Library, which went live in April 2006, further demonstrates the success of implementing the RFID system there: 'It's amazing.' BBC Essex Breakfast Show Further testimony to the success of the project has been reflected in that ECC libraries have presented two major seminars to other library authorities both from within the UK and overseas, detailing the significant benefits achieved for Essex Libraries and its customers through implementing RFID.

Additional visits have been hosted by ECC libraries with library authorities from Australia (Eastern Regional Libraries Victoria Australia) to Siberia (British Council: Siberia) to the USA (Harwich Libraries, Massachusetts, USA), as well as many more, reflecting the significance of the project and its impact within library authorities across the globe.

Suppliers for the project included:
BT: Project Management, Supplier Management, Network & Desktop Services.
Intellident: Provision & .Installation of RFID Systems Hardware & Software.
Essex Libraries: Project Management, Change Management.

source:  www.publictechnology.net