9032401RFID self-service within Karmac’s mobile library(24/03/09)

Intellident are pleased to announce the first installation of Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) solutions into Karmac Bibliotheek Service (KBS) mobile libraries. Since November 2008, Intellident has been working in collaboration with KBS to install smartServe™ and smartStation™ equipment into three of the company’s mobile library buses.

During 2008, KBS introduced a series of mobile libraries to support small communities that have lost their library services over recent years. Each bus contains 3,000+ items, with a total of 25,000+ stock holdings between all units, and approximate area coverage of 600km2 - over 6 major towns throughout the Netherlands.

In most instances, mobile libraries employ only one staff member, whose main task is driving the bus and dealing with customer enquiries. In an effort to provide an attractively priced mobile library solution to communities, KBS decided to explore the prospect of self-service. Subsequently, Intellident RFID self-service solutions provided an ideal opportunity to assist all staff with the efficient operation of the mobile libraries and provide borrowers with an enhanced service.

Intellident installed smartServe™ self-service kiosks on 3 of KBS’ mobile libraries, providing the public with a quick and simple issue and return method. In addition, Intellident installed 5 smartStation™ units, 3 thermal printers, and 25,000 labels to tag all stock.

Darren Ratcliffe, Sales and Marketing Director for Intellident, explains: “Borrowers are very happy with the impressive high speed transaction handling that the new self-service equipment provides; feedback has shown that, as a result of the introduction of RFID technology, the mobile libraries are now viewed as a modern alterative to traditional libraries. Patrons have used the equipment with ease and staff are finding that their time has been freed to carry out other important tasks”. A Dutch customer of KBS also commented (translated): “Tonight I have visited the new mobile library and all is looking very good indeed. Nice new books and borrowing them using the self-check station is perfect. It’s a piece of cake scanning and issuing items!” Many active library members, including children, are using the mobile libraries and are showing other visitors how to use the smartServe™ kiosks.

In the future, KBS are looking to implement inventory control via the Intellident smartInventory™ hand-held stock management system and smartBlade™ on-shelf reading solution. Installation of both solutions will ideally complement to existing self-service equipment, providing staff with the ability to track and trace items in and between the mobile libraries and warehouses, and library members with the ability to easily find requested items, where only limited staffing is available.

About Intellident Ltd
Intellident is Europe’s leading RFID solutions provider, specialising in the design and supply of software-driven control systems. It has offices in the UK, Netherlands and now France. To date it has implemented hundreds of installations across its core markets, covering more than 300 million RFID tags.

For more information please contact:

For more information please contact Andy Chadbourne at a.chadbourne@intellident.co.uk, +44 (0)161 498 1140, or alternatively visit www.intellident.co.uk