2016 International Conference on Intelligent Networking and Collaborative Systems
Design and implementation of library books search
and management system using RFID Technology
Haiming CHENG1, Ling HUANG1
1Schoolof Computer Science and Technology
Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications
Nanjing, China
2Jiangsu
High Technology Research Key Laboratory for
Wireless Sensor Networks
Abstract—Radio Frequency Identification technology (RFID)
is the key technology to realize the Internet of things. Currently,
using RFID to locate objects indoor is a hot topic in the research
on the application of RFID. In this paper, we propose an RFID
system based on RFID technology and Wi-Fi wireless
communication technology. And we design a corresponding
handheld device client software to realize a visual book search
and management system. This system can not only greatly
improve the efficiency of book search and management but also
save the manpower and material resources to a large extent,
which has a practical application value.
Eeywords—RFID technology, WIFI technology, library
management system, indoor location
I. INTRODUCTION
Nowadays, the scale of library is expanding and the
quantity of books is increasingly large. Besides, with the
growing popularity of open-shelf reading, the phenomenon of
misplaced books is becoming more and more common. Thus,
readers finding books and library administrators checking
books are also becoming increasingly difficult. However, what
has been used most widely now is the library management
system based on bar code, whose operation process is beyond
complicated. What’s more, the bar code has a short life and
breaks easily, which greatly influences the efficiency of the
library management. At the same time, the book retrieval
system based on the bar code can not provide accurate location
information of books, which not only affects the search
efficiency of the books but also leads readers to have a great
dissatisfaction with the status quo, Therefore, a smart book
management system is needed urgently.
II. RELATED TECHNOLOGY
A. RFID technology
Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology [1-4],
which is also known as electronic tag (E-Tag) technology, is a
non-contact automatic identification technology. It can
automatically identify the target object by radio frequency
signal, and can carry out the object tracking and data
exchanging at a very fast speed.
978-1-5090-4124-4/16 $31.00 © 2016 IEEE
DOI 10.1109/INCoS.2016.35
He Xu1,2,Corresponding Author, Yifan HU3,Xu An WANG4
3College of Internet of Things
Nanjing University of Posts and Telecommunications
4
Nanjing, China
Key Laboratory of Information and Network Security
Engineering University of Chinese Armed Police Force
Xi’an, China
Email: xuhe@njupt.edu.cn
The characteristics of the RFID technology are as follows:
Firstly, it’s a kind of non-contact data acquisition technology
which can realize automatic identification and management;
Secondly, any information can be written in, so that it can meet
the demand of continuously increasing quantity of information
and improving information processing speed; Thirdly, it can
recognize targets at a very fast speed. That’s to say, once the
targets enter the magnetic field, readers can handle multiple
label data immediately and simultaneously to realize batch
identification; High security can’t be ignored as well as a result
that you can set password protection for the reading and
writing of the tag data[5-8]. In addition, it greatly improves the
automation of information collection in circulation
management and solves the managing problems about the
goods’ information in the motor process[9-12]. In theory, the
RFID technology has become a research hotspot in the respect
of indoor location technology owning to its advantages of high
security, high reliability, easy to operate, carrying a large
amount of information, information acquisition fast and
accurately, wide application and long service life, which is
incomparable with the conventional label technology.
B. WIFI technology
Wi-Fi is a technology that can connect the PC, handheld
devices (e.g. pad, mobile phone) and other terminals by a
wireless way. Actually, it's a high frequency radio signal.
The advantages and characteristics of Wi-Fi are as follows:
Firstly, its construction is convenient as a result that no wiring
works are needed when setting up the network. It’s only one or
more wireless AP that can meet the demand for wireless
internet access in a certain range. On addition, the radio waves
of Wi-Fi have a wide coverage, whose radius is more than 300
meters. Compared with the radius of Bluetooth (about 15m),
the gap is obviously enormous. Besides, what attracts users is
that the investment is economical. Once the number of users
increases, just add the APs, no need to rewiring. Thus, a lot of
network construction costs can be saved compared with the
wired network. What’s more, the signal transfers fast at a speed
of 37.5Mbit/s, which can satisfy the vast majority of personal
and social demands of information. And the threshold for
manufacturer is lower, so that we can set wireless network "hot
spots" at the dense crowd indoor spaces such as the airport,
station, hotel, library, and make it connect the high-speed
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Internet. As long as the user's wireless internet access devices
are in the area covered by the "hot spot", they can easily access
the Internet. In a word, WIFI has been applied more and more
widely due to its advantages of healthy, safe, high speed and
economical.
III. THE CORE TECHNOLOGY OF THE BOOK SEARCH AND
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Our system uses RFID technology to recognize targets and
read information. We design and implement a WIFI-RFID
reader using the Arduino Uno, which can transfer the reading
information to the server and modify the corresponding data in
the database through wireless WIFI. The data exchange
between the server side and the mobile clients is realized
through WIFI as well, so as to achieve the functions like book
search or book management and so on. The design of the
schematic diagram and physical map of WIFI-RFID hardware
circuit are showed as follows in Fig. 1and Fig. 2:
Fig. 1. The design of the schematic diagram
Fig. 2. The physical map of WIFI-RFID hardware circuit
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IV. THE FUNCTION DESIGN OF THE BOOK SEARCH AND
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
A. The book search function module with route visualization
At first, the RFID readers should be placed at a certain
distance based on the situation of every library. That is to say,
each RFID reader is to indicate the range of books. The most
accurate case is that each bookshelf is placed an RFID reader.
As is shown in Fig. 3, the book search function diagram.
When the enquirers are to search for books, they should input
the information such as the title, call number or other
information of the books they want to find in the terminal
equipment with related software. And the information can be
sent to the system server via WIFI. The system server will send
the feedback information to the client device after processing.
Then, the related information of the inquired books e.g. the
book’s name, author, date of publication, press ,call number,
and other basic information ) can be displayed on the inquiry
terminal equipment. Besides, location information of the high
frequency passive RFID reader indicating the position of the
book can be shown as well. And the app can generate a route
guide picture to make it more intuitive to know how to get the
book (Fig. 4, Fig. 5 are the route guide pictures which are
generated by the application based on Android platform). The
inquirer can find the bookshelf that is indicated by the RFID
reader based on the route guide picture conveniently. And then
all he needs to do is just finding the wanted book in the related
bookshelf.
When a searcher is determined to put a book in or remove
one from a bookshelf, what he has to do is letting the book
touch the RFID reader related to the bookshelf (based on the
noncontact feature of the RFID electronic tags).Then, the high
frequency passive RFID reader will immediately feedback the
information which is stored in the RFID electronic tags
attached to the book to the system server. And the system
server will revise the information of the book’s location stored
in the database as soon as possible according to the feedback
information. Based on this, the other inquirer can find the real-
time book location information timely.
Consequently, with the help of RFID technology and WIFI
technology, within the cover of WIFI, users can not only query
the exact location information of the book they wanted no
matter where and when, but they can find the book according
to the route chart quickly and accurately. The system has
solved the problems that finding books wastes too much time
and energy caused by books misplaced or unclear instructions
on the bookshelves. Besides, it makes up the defects of the
existing system that can’t provide accurate visual orientation of
books. And it can greatly improve the borrowers’ and the
managements’ search efficiency doubtlessly.
Fig. 3. the book search function diagram

Fig. 5. The route guide pictures which are generated by the application based
on Android platform

B. Self-help books borrow and return Function module

If the readers need to borrow out of the book, it can be
achieved by the RFID Self-help books borrow and return
system. First of all, it’s needed to scan the library card to
determine the identity of the borrowers. Then, use the RFID
reader loaded on the self-help borrow and return platform to
read books’ information in the RFID electronic tags attached
on the book. At the same time, the related information such as
the borrower's name, book title, lending date and so on will be
inputted into the system, from which the function of self –
borrowing can be realized quickly.
Simultaneously, the RFID detection door should be set next
to the library entrance, which will check whether the
information of books taken out by readers has been modified.
If not, the door will send out a warning message to forbid
readers to take the books out.
Fig. 4. The route guide pictures which are generated by the application based
on Android platform When books are returned, administrators use the RFID
reader to get the books’ information in order to check out
whether the books are overdue and confirm whether the
borrowed books’ data is the same as that stored in the RFID tag.
If any problem occurs in this process, the system will enter the
corresponding processing module for solving the problem. On
contrary, the administrators will put the books on the right
bookshelf according to the information where the books should
be put.
C. Books sorting Function module
With the assist of RFID technology, intelligent sorting
function is aimed to collect the information of the books in
library like the position, distribution, location and the basic
data, and then, it can greatly improve the efficiency of the
library work.
Administrators use handheld devices equipped with RFID
reader to scan books in turn. And the system can feedback the
information about each books’ should-be position and the
actual position to the handheld device, by which can quickly
achieve the homing and arrangement of books.

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 Moreover, as the result that the information about the
books’ borrow and return can be feedback instantly to the
server, the administrators can directly look up the server
database to get the exact real-time book information ,by which
can complete the book inventory work promptly and precisely.
The schematic diagram of books sorting function is shown
in Fig. 6.
FUNCTIONS
The tags usually consist of chips and antennas which can
send RFID signals, and every single tag has its unique e-code.
A mark is used to be attached to or embedded into objects to
mark the targets with related information of the target.
The readers can send and receive identifying signals to
RFID tags by controlling RF modules. Passive RFID readers
with high frequency are allocated with WIFI modules for data
messaging and sending the relevant messages to servers to be
managed.
The system servers, with book information database inside,
can interact with and manage information from RFID readers,
self-help borrow platforms, handing CPEs (Customer Premises
Equipment) and other relevant equipment through WIFI.
The self-help borrow and return system is an equipment
system for scanning, recognizing and managing borrow and
return services which helps the self-borrowing operation and
the management of circulated materials for both readers and
staffs. Touching display screens are attached to the system
providing easily-handled man-machine communication
interface. The display screens can be connected to the using
system by public licenses or serial ports.
The portable CPEs can be divided into the installed WIFI-
accessible mobile equipment in libraries (e.g. mobile phone,
PAD) and handing devices for library staffs.
Searchers can access to the library servers for needed
information no matter where and when by mobile phones or
PADs with client software in a WIFI accessible place.
The handing devices is allocated with screens providing
easily-handled man-machine communication interface. Library
staffs can scan the books with handing devices for relevant
information recorded in the RFID chips and system, and
checking books efficiently and accurately.
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Fig. 6. The schematic diagram of books sorting function
6) RFID detection doors
The RFID detection doors are attached with high frequently
RFID signal readers and alarm equipment. The high frequently
RFID signal readers can check the RFID chips on books that
readers are carrying, recognize the information and send it to
the server. Alarm will be triggered if no borrow record about
the book can be matched, which can avoid books losing
efficiently.
B. Theory on system function
The system consists of books with HF passive RFID e-book
tags, HF passive RFID readers, WIFI networks, system server
and customer devices (including self-help borrow and return
system, CPEs, et. al.). The HF passive RFID e-book tags are
attached to every book recording name, author, publishing date,
call number and other relevant information, and recorded data
can be sent to RFID readers; the HF passive readers attached to
each layer or case of the bookshelf can read the information
sent through RFID e-tags, and pass the read information and
bookshelf position to system server via WIFI; the system
server, RFID readers and terminal devices should be in a same
WIFI network range, and information of borrow records and
book positions in the server can be updated immediately as
soon as receiving the RFID readers data, so that the updated
status and accuracy can be guaranteed.
The mentioned reader mobile phones with book-searching
software can show the basic information and position of the
book when searching, and can provide clear route guide picture
to the book position through drawing function.
The mentioned self-help borrow platforms and the handing
devices for library staffs can both read the data of book
information through network, and can send the information
back to sever for updating the borrow or return status of the
book promptly to ensure the accuracy of the searching results.

Fig. 7. The flow chart of borrow and return function theory
Fig. 8. The flow chart of book search and management function theory
VI. CONCLUSIONS
This intelligent book search and management system which
is based on RFID and WIFI technology breaks through the
traditional fixed terminal query mode. It solves the problem the
existing bar code technology has at present that it can’t provide
the location of books precisely and can’t show the concise
route guide picture. The inquirers can not only query the exact
location information of the book they wanted no matter where
and when, but they can find the book according to the clear
route guide picture promptly and accurately. This smart book
search system has solved the problems that finding books
wastes too much time and energy caused by books misplaced
or unclear instructions on the bookshelves. Morever, it can
greatly narrow the book search range and improve the speed
for readers to find the books. Besides, the system provides
great convince for both the borrowers and the administrators to
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find books they want promptly and accurately so that their time
and energy can be saved enormously at the same time.
When it comes to the library management, the RFID
technology makes up for the deficiency of the bar code
technology being applied in the application of library. It
realizes a smart library automation system. Compared with the
bar code technology, its superiorities are mainly lies in these
aspects: it will achieve readers’ self-help borrow and return
books and can manage and sort books efficiently with the
support from RFID. And it has no problem finding misplaced
things. Meanwhile, because RFID is a non-contact technology,
it does have the advantages that it can be read and written
many times, has a long reading distance and can do dynamic
real-time communication, etc. With the large-scale applications
of the technology[13-15], we’re definitely convinced that the
readers’ reading interest will be greatly improved and the
modern library management system will stride forward the era
of automated information processing and management. The
RFID technology will be an inevitable choice for the library
management to realize modernization and intelligence in the
coming future.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This work was financially supported by the National
Natural Science Foundation of P. R. China(No.61572260,
No.61373017, No.61572261), Scientific & Technological
Support Project of Jiangsu Province(No. BE2015702), Natural
Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province, China(Grant No.
BK20140886, No. BK20140888), China Postdoctoral Science
Foundation(Grant No. 2014M561696, No. 2014M551636),
Natural Science Foundation of the Jiangsu Higher Education
Institutions of China(Grant No. 14KJB520030), Jiangsu
Planned Projects for Postdoctoral Research Funds(Grant No.
1401005B, No. 1302090B), Jiangsu Postgraduate Scientific
Research and Innovation Projects (SJLX15_0381,
SJLX16_0621), NUPT STITP( XYB2015167), Project of
Jiangsu High Technology Research Key Laboratory for
Wireless Sensor Networks(WSNLBZY201509), and
NUPTSF(Grant No. NY213034, No. NY214060 and No.
NY214061).
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