The management of technical resources in the Scientific Information Centre and Academic Library in Katowice. The RFID as a centre of the library services. Technical and organizational solutions and security policies

Abstract

The last decade of the 20th century and the first fifteen years of the new millennium have witnessed revolutionary transformation in the organization of library workflow. The main reason for change is the development of microelectronics and information technology. The last decade of the 20th century was a the period of implementation of IT systems in libraries world-wide, while the first fifteen years of the 21st century saw the development of these systems and the introduction of devices supporting the newly evolved technologies. One of the elements of implementation brought about significant and long-lasting consequences in terms of the development of technology. This was the introduction of the RFID markers. When implementing the application of the RFID markers as labels for particular subsets of library collections, it is indispensable to choose properly and responsibly the technical parameters of both the labels and the devices supporting the library workflow especially their physical properties as well as to check their compatibility with the IT system supporting the operations of libraries. While implementing the RFID markers, it is essential to pay special attention to all aspects of routine operations of libraries such as consequences of the remodeling processes related to ongoing transformations of legal regulations impacting the libraries and the evolution of international norms. It is therefore particularly important to take steps toward the implementation of solutions which would warrant the compatibility between the legal/organizational frameworks of reference and the library technology. As a result the selected model of the IT supporting the workflow, compatible with the existing (and planned) hardware system supporting library technology, would guarantee acceptable risk of IT safety. This solution meets the standard requirements concerning the maximum access time to particular library services.