Tag: selfcheck

Koha, RFID, AMH & SIP

How, Why, Gotchas & Lessons Learned

Chris Rohde/Rendi Hodge, Roseville Public Library, crohde@roseville.ca.us & rhodge@roseville.ca.us, 916-774-5221

Technical issues during this presentation — lost the remote presenter, Chris Rohde.

Why talk about Koha, SIP and RFID/AMH? 

  • lighten load on circulation — 95% goes thru self check
  • lighten load on Koha soft spot

What is SIP? 

  • 3M vendor creation, 1993
  • Allows ILS to communicate with their products
  • ILS to Self-Service communication for transactions
  • Donated to NISO, National Information Standards Organization, 2012
  • SIP3 forthcoming
  • Other protocols available, NCIP
  • Helpful to have a SIP testing tool, like SIP testing tool

RFID tags

  • Roseville uses passive version
  • Antennae/Radio
  • Chip – Data/Security
  • Adhesive
  • 2×2 in. tags on books and media cases; overlays on discs
  • Used for: Self-check; automated returns; security gates

AMH?

  • AMH — Automated Materials Handling
  • Leverages RFIP & SIP
  • Includes “Induction” bookdrop
  • Brings you closer to customers — staff in front of the desk vs. behind the desk
  • Bin-sorting for reshelving purposes

AMH Video of this in-progress

Concerns/Lessons Learned

  • SIP Concerns: load, resources, compatibility ports
  • Split server setup
  • Koha Database concerns — didn’t appear to be an issue
  • SIP Servers, Accounts & Ports — separate SIP user for each and every machine
  • SIP Settings & Timeouts – 6 minutes timeout setting; monitored load during go-live; scripts in place to kill active SIP services not in use, to keep the server load at a minimum
  • Local Networking/Infrastructure: Firewall conflicts
  • RFID Vendors Role — ILS partnerships
  • Contingency — for developments or sever split
  • RFP Process
  • Project Management — follow PM guidelines; have a staffer in charge of project
  • Staffing Model, Koha, & RFID — impacts way you help customers & use Koha. Koha Circ module used less, but account management is used more.
  • OPAC & Staff search interface more important; staff no longer behind counters; mobile view more important now for both customers and staff.

Did this model increase or decrease circ? Not sure on stats, but it definitely sped up circulation; customers speed right through, especially after storytime.

Why split the SIP Server off? Library already having performance issues before RFID/AMH/Self-check put into place; decided to split the server off, due to the increase of hardware (11 self-check machines).

Biggest challenge has been internal networking structure, not SIP.