Descripción

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is an automated data-capture technology that can be used to electronically identify, track, and store information about groups of products, individual items, or product components. RFID technology has rapidly gained popularity in numerous applications as a cost saving and information gathering tool. Molnar & Wagner (2004) and Curtin, Kauffman, & Riggins (2005) argued that libraries are a fast growing application of RFID as the technology promises to relieve repetitive strain injury, speed patron self check, and make feasible comprehensive inventory. Although libraries in developed countries have rapidly adopted and diffused the technology, the literature is sparse on the application of the technology in Latin America and the Caribbean. In particular, libraries in Jamaica currently use manual systems and some of the universities use a combination of manual and barcode. This system has many shortcomings such as difficulty with inventory management, shrinkage, shelving and circulation problem. It is proposed that Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) can be applied as an effective solution to collect, manage and distribute books within the library. This study will develop a business case and pilot implementation to access the potential benefits and risk of the technology and the adoption drivers. Currently, there is no literature on RFID in developing countries. This study will pioneer RFID research locally in a library environment by examining the technical, organizational, financial and behavioral issues associated with implementation. It should be noted that the RFID knowledge and skills gained on the technology can be transferable to other application in Jamaica such as supply chain management, health industry, agriculture and others.