COFFS Harbour City Council has agreed to go ahead with the procurement of RFID equipment for the region’s new central Library within Yarrila Place (Cultural and Civic Space project).

The Library Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) equipment is used to automate and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of circulation, collection management and the security of library material.

Council implemented the RFID system across all three of its library branches at Coffs Harbour, Woolgoolga and Toormina in 2015, which included the provision of self-check kiosks for customers, automated returns, RFID pads for staff workstations and book security gates at all library entrances.

The new expanded central library in Yarrila Place will operate over three levels and include a returns sorting machine on the ground floor which will be located in a dedicated library returns process room, self-check (customer self-service) kiosks, security gates and an upgrade of the current library’s existing self-check kiosks, which will be relocated to the new library and upgraded to accept customer payments.

The total amount required to procure the new Library RFID equipment is more than $250,000.

Council resolved at its meeting on Thursday 23 September to procure the new RFID equipment from its existing RFID supplier Bibliotheca to ensure continued integration of the library systems when the new central Library at Yarrila Place at Gordon Street, Coffs Harbour, is opened next year.

 

By Emma DARBIN