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RFID systems can increase customer service and satisfaction and they can help libraries control their costs. However, RFID systems don’t always work well and, somewhat surprisingly, many RFID system problems are caused by one of the least expensive components—the tag.
Within a few years—or even a matter of months—the read range of some library RFID tags will begin to shorten and the tag may fail. Naturally, such poor performance causes concerns and bewilderment among the affected librarians.
The hard lesson learned by these librarians is that RFID tags can vary considerably. They are based on different designs and are intended for different purposes and lifespans. They use different materials and are fabricated using different methods. Consequently, some last longer and perform better than others.
RFID Tag Life
One of the more demanding application for RFID technology is in a library where the tags should remain fully functional for 15 years or more. These library tags must survive far longer than the tags used in retail clothing stores, for example, and this added reliability could make them more costly to manufacture.
Unfortunately, some tag suppliers do not recognize or acknowledge the longer life requirements for tags that are attached to library items. These suppliers might recommend less durable and less expensive tags.
System Impact
RFID tag failure can be gradual, resulting in a modest or a severe reduction in the read-range. It can also be catastrophic—with no warning, the tag can become suddenly unresponsive.
If the read-range of the tag drops off, security detection system performance can be compromised because some tags will no longer be read by the detection system. Handheld readers won’t pick up every item. Errors can occur during the reading of multiple items. Performance with CDs and DVDs will be especially impacted.
What Accelerated Aging Tests Reveal
The statistical results generated by accelerated aging tests are revealing. This chart compares test data for 10 tag samples from four library RFID tag suppliers, including 3M. Note that all tags are ISO compliant.
These results show the average read-ranges from the suppliers’ samples.
What to ask an RFID tag supplier
To a large degree, tag performance can determine the overall performance of a library RFID system. Tags can also be a significant investment. For both reasons, librarians should thoroughly research tag durability and reliability before investing in an RFID system. As part of that research, librarians should aggressively question tag suppliers.
Specifically, they should consider asking the following questions:
- Have you tested your tags for long-term durability?
- What test methods do you use?
- Is the test longer than one week?
- Can I see the data?
RFID is a very reliable and durable technology. RFID tags can be designed to function in extremely hostile environments, including aircraft engines and copper smelting operations. Tags for library RFID systems do not require such a high degree of durability, but they do need to be designed and built to meet the demands of the library environment.
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