In December 2012, the Camp de l'Arpa-Caterina Albert Library opened its doors, and became the first public library in the city with a self-service loaning system. Since then, various libraries have incorporated this tool for a more modern, faster loaning service.
Implementation of RFID technology marks the beginning of self-service loaning in Barcelona Libraries. From now on all new libraries will offer this service.
This service allows us to improve the loaning service, as it helps user autonomy with a safer, more compact and more reliable system. Users can manage their own document loans and returns using the self-service loan machines.
The self-service loan system allows users to:
Check documents out and return them Check your account status Renew loans Pick up your reserved documents straight at the reserved shelf
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a technology that allows data to be wirelessly transferred, through radio waves. These chips and RFID readers substitute the barcode technology and allow several documents to be taken out all at once in a single operation. These simple devices have touch screens that display the steps to be followed during the various transactions that can be made. At the end of each process, a receipt with a summary of the operations carried out is also printed out.
