South Korean University of Incheon Library Automates Operations with RFID
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(UPM Raflatac, Tampere) - The University of Incheon in South Korea has automated its library operations with RFID. The university's newly built library, Haksan, utilises RaceTrack HF RFID tags from UPM Raflatac coupled with a complete library automation solution from ECO.
The move away from the previously used barcode technology became opportune as the university began building its new campus and Haksan library in Songdo in 2009. Located close to Seoul, Songdo is a completely planned and sustainable international city in the Incheon Free Economic Zone. It is the new hub for innovation in the region and is world-famous for its use of new technologies.
In the first phase, the Haksan library tagged 500,000 educational and research items. Thanks to the RFID-enabled library automation solution, the university's 10,000 students are now able to enjoy the benefits of faster book circulation and easy to use self-service check-in/out stations. In addition, the RFID solution allows students to use their credit cards for library transactions, eliminating the need to carry a library patron card.
For library staff the automation means a significant reduction in the time previously lost on laborious and tedious tasks related to book circulation and inventories. The staff can now allocate more of their working hours on more important tasks and focus on better serving their customers.
Highly satisfied with the successful RFID implementation at the Haksan library, the University of Incheon plans on expanding the use of RFID to the library of its Jemulpo campus.
About UPM Raflatac
UPM Raflatac, part of UPM's Engineered Materials business group, is one of the world's leading suppliers of self-adhesive label materials and the world's number one producer of HF and UHF radio frequency identification
(RFID) tags and inlays. UPM Raflatac has a global service network consisting of 13 factories on five continents and a broad network of sales offices and slitting and distribution terminals worldwide. UPM Raflatac employs 2,600 people and made sales of approximately EUR 0.95 billion (USD 1.3 billion) in 2009. Further information is available at www.upmrfid.com.
About ECO
ECO is a leading provider of Digital library and RFID-enabled library automation systems in South Korea. Since 2001, ECO has successfully developed and provided a series of products for library automation using RFID technology. Currently, almost all RFID-enabled libraries in Korea use ECO's RFID products. The company is also focusing on the development of high-performance RFID middleware and applied equipment and a Digital Library system for libraries, with the aim of becoming a leading provider worldwide. Further information is available at www.eco.co.kr.
About the University of Incheon Haksan Library The Library plays a pivotal role in efficient academic research and learning activities, and contributes to the promotion of both specialized and general knowledge by systematically collecting and managing materials to meet users' information needs. It is equipped with reading rooms that accommodate 1,500 people, more than 680,000 books, 547 kinds of Korean and international journals and a variety of audio-visual materials. The Library serves as the heart of the university, offering up-to-date Web DB and research materials. Further information is available at http://lib.incheon.ac.kr/index.jsp.
For further information, please contact:
Mr Edward Lu,
Sales and Marketing Director,
Asia,RFID,
UPM Raflatac, tel.
+65 9173 0884
Mr Montero Woo,
Sales Manager,
ECO, Inc,
tel. +82 2 2024 9725
