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Integrating Digital Library System with RFID

Fadzilah Siraj
a
, Rajib Hasan
b
, Shahrin Rizlan Mohd Yusof
c
, Megat Firdaus Haris
d

and Muhammad Ashraq Salahuddin
e
Applied Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences
Universiti Utara Malaysia, UUM 06010 Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia
a
fad173@uum.edu.my,
b
mrhuum@live.com,
c
srizlan80@gmail.com,
d
s808208@student.uum.edu.my,
e
s803116@student.uum.edu.my

Abstract
The term digital library has a variety of potential meanings, ranging from a digitized collection
of documents in a traditional library to collection of all kinds of digital information along with
the services that make the information useful to all possible users. Research library in particular
collect and archieve human knowledge and scholarly communication as well as dissemating
quality scientific knowledge. In this paper, the framework of digital library known as DiLiB is
proposed. DiLiB Management System process will be computerized to reduce human errors and
to increase the efficiency in managing library. In addition, DiLiB is designed to be integrated
with RFID for increasing the effectiveness of data management and ease of use to the users.

Keywords: Digital Library, RFID, Smart Card, ASP, Visual Studio

1. INTRODUCTION

The term digital library has a variety of potential meanings, ranging from a digitized collection
of documents in a traditional library to collection of all kinds of digital information along with
the services that make the information useful to all possible users (Sebestyn-Pl et al., 2008).
Digital library is also referred to an information retrieval system in which collections are stored
in digital formats and easily accessed by networked computers. It is an instrument for supporting
communication and collaboration among worldwide distributed communities (Greenstein &
Thorin, 2002).

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Research library provides two core functions, namely collection and archieving of human
knowledge and scholarly communication as well as dissemination of quality scientific
knowledge (Khan, 2006). As for the developing countries, the cost of collecting and archieving
printed materials using traditional methods is becoming very expensive. According to Okerson
and Schonfeld (2004), digital content reduces the cost by a factor of ten.

Computer software integrated with Microsoft SQL Server 2008 can retrieve books quickly and it
has high effective long operating, low costs advantage. Using computer software in digitalizing
library management is a systemic approach of managing library. However, existing large scale
library management system is capable of managing small and medium sized library but still it
leads to resource wasting as there is no RFID and online reservation technology has been
implemented yet. In this paper, DiLib Management System that uses Microsoft latest web based
software development technology with integration of RFID is proposed. One example of
successful RFID usage that has been utlized is at University Utara Malaysia. The uniqueness of
DiLib Management System is that user can use library resources from a local network and as
well as from internet network also across the globe. This technology can realize code separation
and enhance system maintainability and reusability.

2. DiLiB MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FRAMEWORK

DiLiB management system will be accessed through web server by any internet browser (Fig. 1).
The background code will be ASP and development platform will be Microsoft visual studio.
Microsoft SQL Server will be used to store the information of the library management system
and digital version of library resources will be kept also in this database.

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Figure 1: DiLiB framework

3. SYSTEM ARCHITECTURE

DiLib Management System will use to develop the framework of library management System.
Whole system can be divided into Presentation Layer (ASP), Business Processing Layer
(Microsoft Visual Studio), Data Persistence Layer (Microsoft SQL 2008) and Database Layer. Its
architecture is shown in Fig. 2.


Figure 2: System Architecture

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Presentation Layer realize with ASP technology is available from Microsoft. The core
component of Business Processing Layer is controller realized with Microsoft Visual Studio.
Business Processing Layer also includes Business intelligences which is realized with ASP
development platform. Business Processing Layer can exchange of information with database
through model layer, which is done by Microsoft SQL 2008. Besides, relational database is at the
bottom of the model.

Presentation Layer

The process of web client registration, log in and etc. is done by end user in this layer called
presentation layer. This layer provides the user with a completed registration form to be
registered into the system. The registration and log in process is provided by ASP tools. The
presentation layer is connected with Business Processing Layer and database for process new
user registration and log in verification by using Microsoft SQL Server database.


Business Process Layer

Business process layer is responsible for all the business process in library management system.
It is the middle layer between Presentation Layer and Data Persistence Layer. Data handled in
Business process Layer only comes from Presentation Layer and Data Persistence Layer.
Business process Layer is responsible for packaging data object which is provided by Data
Persistence Layer. It also provides function interface for Presentation Layer. Business process
Layer is realized by Business component.

Data Persistence Layer

The persistence layer is realized on DiLiB. During the course of realization, programmer must
create configuration file, define persistence class, define the mapping of persistence object and
realize persistence operation. In this layer, the configuration file will sets up driver, username
and password of the database information. The object that creates in persistence layer is based on
object-relational mapping file from user access. After declaration of class, the mapping process
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will take over to realize the map from user information based on login access. The persistence
operation such as query, add, delete, update and search are being done in this layer.


4. DiLiB Model
As Bangladesh has not established a digital library, the proposed digital library inevitably can
deliver benefit to Digital Bangladesh. In building the digital library, the first step is to have
collection that comprises of electronic catalogue and digitized content (Rathje et al., 2005). As
such, the DiLib Management System is proposed and the model is shown in Fig. 3.




Following Ioannidis et al. (2008), DiLiB Model is adapted from Wang (2010), Chan and Liu
(2009), consists of four main components, viz: System Management, RFID/ Smart Card Reader
(Borrow and Reader Management) and e-Resources Management.
Figure 3: DiLiB Function Model
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System Management
System Management focuses on User Registration and password creation. This determines the
users level of access to DiLiB system.
Book Database Management
This function is to create book database, including the old and new books stored in the library.
This function mainly concentrates on cataloging, implying that for example subject
identification, the title/ author/ organization, publication year, copy number are made available.
However, the digital form of the book in unavailable. In addition, this function also caters for
reader inquiry about the availabilty of a particular book from the book database.
RFID/ Smart Card Reader
The RFID/ Smart Card Reader will be used first for users access to the library area based on the
students smart card (Fig. 4). The reference model of RFID is based on Kim et al. (2008). The
smart card will also be used for the Borrow Management activities. This function is focusing
on the lend and borrowing activity as well as updating the books database. To loan or return
the books, users can perform such activities at respective kiosk as shown in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 and
this falls into Borrow Management option. Once the users have access to the library area, they
could also do the searching at the lab located in the library (Fig. 7).









Figure 4: RFID Smart card

Figure 5: Book loan kiosk
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In Reader Management option, new reader will be added to the database using Add Reader
function. In addition, users could also send their inquiries to the system and their reuquest will
be dealt with Reader Inquiry and Loan Inquiry functions.
e-Resources Management
This function links the user to published articles, journals, dissertation, thesis and other
electronic resources freely available on the internet. One unique option available in this function
is its links to a search engine with portal specifically known as MyDrep. MyDrep consists of
published articles in particular written by South East Asian countries such as Malaysia and
Bangladesh. For the maintanence purposes, some amount of fee will be charged per download,
however authors who contribute to this repository will be given some honorarium based on the
number of citation the articles is being cited by others.

5. CONCLUSION
DiLiB Management System process will be computerized to reduce human errors and to increase
the efficiency in managing library. Traditional library system has been failed to reduce mistakes
in Borrow management and also there are many issues arise from traditional library management
system such as book lost, books cannot find and so on. DiLib is a library management system
which will be able to categorize the books, searching will involve the use of artifical intelligence
and more accurate search results. RFID will be used as the backbone of the Borrow

Figure 6: Book return kiosk

Figure 7: Library lab
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management, entry to Library so there will be less possibility to books lost. Not only that DiLib
will allow user to read, print, download the free online library resources.

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