The annual conference of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions was held in Glasgow, Scotland in August, 2002. Among the products and services on display in the vendor exhibit hall were several new systems which combine radio frequency identification (RFID) to facilitate the lending, return, and inventory of library materials. Unlike magnetic theft detection systems and barcode label systems, RFID allows each item to be identified fully by means of a computer chip. Also on display were robotic sorters which can be used with RFID or conventional labeling systems. In this Roundup, we describe systems built by several vendors, and suggest future applications of RFID and robotics in libraries and archives.
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