LIBRARY MONITORING SYSTEM INCLUDING A NUMBER OF BORROWABLE ITEMS

摘要

A library monitoring system includes a number of borrowable items. Each item has a radio frequency identification device mounted thereon and the radio frequency identification device has a unique identification code. A processing unit (1) is coupled to a database containing an indication of the location of each library item and is also coupled to a borrowing location (3), a borrowed item returning location (2) and the returned item sorting location (5). The borrowed item returning location (2) includes a receptacle (32, 33) into which the borrowed item (34) is inserted. The receptacle (32, 33) includes an antenna (10) which detects an insertion of library item (34) having a radio frequency identification device mounted thereon. The borrowed item returning location (2) responds to the insertion of a library item (34) into the receptacle (32, 33) detects the identification code and sends the identification code corresponding to the returned library item (34) to the processing unit (1). The processing unit (1) responds to the received identification code, updates the information on the database relating to the returned library item (34) to indicate that the returned library item (34) has been returned to the library.