RFID Automation of the Library of Moscow University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation named after V.Y. Kikot

Moscow University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia named after V.Y. Kikot (hereinafter referred to as the University) is the largest federal state-owned educational institution of higher education of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, which implements fundamental academic practice-oriented training of personnel for internal affairs bodies. Combining prominent scientists, teachers and practitioners within its walls, the University prepares specialists for various departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia at a qualitatively new level, including in the formats of initial training, retraining and advanced training of police officers.

In 2015, during the implementation of the concept of developing the University’s information and library environment, an integration of a multi-aspect array of documents and library and bibliographic services took place. The transformation of the resources of the traditional library into a flexible toolkit of the University’s information cloud was implemented, including the use of RFID technologies. The result of the ongoing innovations was the transformation of the library into a multifunctional information and library center, which retained in its potential the traditions of classical library, but functioning on the basis of the technological capabilities of the modern information society.

Very tight deadlines made the task of implementing the RFID system in the library even more difficult. The call was accepted by the RST-Invent company, which, in accordance with all requirements and in a strictly regulated timeframe, carried out a full range of works on the production, supply and installation of RFID equipment, as well as trained the library staff to work with new technology.

As part of the project, automated workstations for system administrators and librarians were equipped, and an automatic book distribution station operating under the SIP2 protocol was installed. To conduct an inventory and search for books in the library, mobile readers are now also used. It should be noted that all equipment and software are integrated into the existing MARK-SQL automated library information system in the University’s library.

The organizational and resource innovations made it possible to organize an area of ​​the open access periodicals fund in the library’s intellectual communications hall. Automatic identification of objects in this segment of the library stock is implemented by radio frequency accounting technology. All printed magazines are equipped with RFID tags, which allows to optimize the process of issuing publications, while the anti-theft functions of the installed RFID system – portal readers manufactured by RST-Invent – ensure the safety of stock materials.

In order to increase the efficiency of the qualified readers’ services, traditional library cards were replaced with documents of a new type – personalized plastic cards.

As part of the modernization of the specialized equipment park, the library is also equipped with a scanner for digitizing and reading books. The optimal scanning system and the V-shaped book cradle made it possible, in addition to digitizing the archive stock of manuscripts, to scan the collection of unique library publications without causing irreparable harm to the document – these are rare, memorial editions of the 18th-19th centuries, the personal library of lawyer Alexei Adolfovich Herzenzon, a collection books of Major General retired Vladimir Filippovich Nekrasov, deposited in the library a collection of books by Vladimir Yakovlevich Kikot.

«We reacted to this project with great enthusiasm and interest. As soon as possible, it was necessary to carry out the production, delivery and installation of RFID equipment. Thanks to our own production facilities and the professionalism of our employees, we have successfully completed the task. At the moment, we continue to work with the University regarding the further development of the RFID system» – says Ilya Melnik, Lead Project Manager for RFID Automation of RST-Invent Library and Archives.