[Koha] Koha + RFID + automatic book sorting system

[Chris Cormack]

* Anne Lena Westrum (anne-lena.westrum at kul.oslo.kommune.no) wrote:
> Hello Koha Community!
> 
> I am wondering whether some of you have experience with Koha and RFID or 
> Koha+RFID and automatic book sorting systems?
> 
> In Oslo, Norway, we are currently planning a new main library stretching 
> across 5 floors with an automated book sorting system as the main 
> logistics "channel" between the floors. The main library is also serving 
> 16 different branches in Oslo, plus all the other libraries in Norway 
> that do ILL from us.
> 
> We are running a proprietary ILS today, but are considering switching to 
> FOSS. All our books are chipped with RFID and we have self 
> checkout/returns machines, but we do not have a book sorting machine. 
> That is something for the new building.
> 
> It would be great if someone could share their experiences with Koha and 
> RFID/book sorting systems with us and help us avoid the - I am sure - 
> known traps that are there. A name of a library or person we should 
> contact is also very welcome!
> 
> I am looking forward to hearing from you! :)
> 
Hi Anne-Lena

I haven't dealt with any sorting machines, but I have worked with
quite a few libraries using return chutes with rfid and Koha.
The SIP Server in Koha is sending all the information back that a
sorter would need (call number, does it have a hold, etc). So I would
expect it to just work.
Also, a lot of sorters using rfid use the information on the tag to
sort, and they don't actually care what the ILS is saying.
IE the rfid tag has the callnumber on it, and they sort using that.

The cavaet is that in my experience all of the machines for doing
selfcheck, automated returns, etc are a lot more fragile than you
would expect them to be, and they can often be quite opaque.
I would encourage you to test well before the time needed for them to
be in production :)

Hope this helps

Chris


-- 
Chris Cormack
Catalyst IT Ltd.
+64 4 803 2238
PO Box 11-053, Manners St, Wellington 6142, New Zealand