Interestingly the guy from Denamrk is saying that they have found that for CDs and DVDs they cannot read the tags if the CDs/DVDs are directly on top of each other (if the space between the tags is too small). To tag individual discs in a single case (a lot of DVDs come like this), they have to put them in cases that don’t ‘stack’ the discs on top of each other – what a pain!

Also some interesting little problems. Some materials they have found that the tags cannot be read through the outside covers – presumably metal content or something in covers. However, these problem items are in the minority.

Again some of the problems they have had is the fact that the library software (not Aleph in this instance) doesn’t interact with the RFID mechanisms – and they have had to write some special software to make this link.

Originally next to their self issue machines they had notices advising to put 5 items on the platform at one time. However, they found that people would keep checking and rechecking that they were doing 5 items. So they changed this advice to 3 items, and people were happier, as they can easily see that they have 3 items on the platform. Funny how these small things make such a difference.

Also they found originally that their self-issue readers were too powerful, and would read information from books on nearby trolleys etc. They have now reduced the power, and put some metal sheilding around the viewer to prevent this.