RFID project completed early and under budget

WCCLS set an ambitious goal of implementing a countywide RFID materials tracking system in a year’s time. The project began in August 2011 and tagging wrapped up in early July 2012. The goals were to improve inventory management, reduce staff handling of materials, speed up the checkout process for patrons and increase the security of the countywide collection.

To that end, here is what we accomplished:

• A temporary project manager was hired and a Request For Proposal (RFP) was issued and reviewed
• 3M Library Systems was selected as the vendor
• RFID tags were purchased and teams of 10-15 contract “taggers” placed and programmed the tags in over 1.4 million books, CDs, DVDs, and other materials in all member libraries
• The tagging process started at Hillsboro's Shute Park Library on January 1, 2012 and finished with Tuality Health Information Center by the end of June 2012.
• RFID readers were installed at check-out desks, in library backrooms and processing areas at all member libraries
• Security gates were installed in 16 libraries
• Self-Check Out machines were installed or upgraded in 12 libraries

We estimated that the project would go into mid-August, but are pleased that the equipment was installed on-time and staff exceeded estimates for how long it would take to complete the tagging, finishing over a month early. Any cost savings from the project will remain in the WCCLS reserve fund to be used for future projects of countywide value.

- Eva Calcagno, WCCLS Director