BANGALORE: Bangalore University will soon introduce Radio Frequency Identity (RFID) devices to trap students who steal books from its library.
The BU library has a collection of over 3.5 lakh books. Many books have gone missing from the library.
"We cannot check each and every student visiting the library. We need to have a system in place to do that," sources from the university said.
Many students who borrow the books for reference or to prepare assignments are not returning them.
Normally, RFID is being used in shopping malls to identify the customers who take the merchandise out without paying the bills.
In order to prevent books being misused, the university is coming up with this initiative. Official sources said that the initiative is a brainchild of BU vicechancellor Dr N Prabhudev and is said to be a first of its kind in India.
According to sources, unique RFID stickers (tags) with BU symbol will be pasted on two different pages. When asked about the possibility of borrowers or students removing the sticker or the page, BU officials said a thin stick would be inserted in the book, which cannot be removed.
BU officials said that they are installing RFID antenna at both the entrances of the library.
"If anyone tries to take a book outside he/she will be caught at the entrance gate. The antenna will produce a beep sound, whenever a book is taken outside without registration," official said. This system will be operational from January next year.
The exercise will cost the university `20 lakh approximately. The varsity will pay the expenditure for adopting the technology for the existing books in its library, while in case of new books, the suppliers will have to bear the expenses.
"We have already called for tenders and purchased RFID stickers. Each RFID sticker (tag) costs `16. We need to purchase other RFID equipment including antenna," sources said.
BU has five libraries, including the ones at Jnanabharathi campus, Central College campus, Law College, physical education and engineering colleges.
"To begin with, we will implement this system at Jnanabharathi campus as well as Central College libraries. Later, it will be extended to the other four libraries," sources said.
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