Ultra High Frequency (UHF) Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is no stranger to the logistics sector where the technology has been widely used with proven performance throughout the supply chains of different industries and businesses. However, in the library arena, it is still of its infancy stage with ample room for innovative applications and new developments. Many UHF RFID practitioners therefore are keeping their eyes open on this potential market where the demand can be great as the technology gradually penetrates into the library field. Libraries, on the other hand, are eager to learn more about the latest development of the technology and look forward to practical UHF RFID solutions that can help improve their service efficiency.

While supply and demand are essential economic factors for any new technology to emerge, well established standards at the technical and operational level are equally crucial factors that determine whether the technology concerned can take off and contribute the most. For UHF RFID to be widely adopted in libraries with the maximum benefits, the same applies. UHF RFID practitioners on the supply side and the libraries on the demand side need to share the common vision and have the same understandings on the capability of the technology and how it can be applied to meet the practical needs in the library business. Standards specific to the application of the technology in libraries must be in place. Standardization in data model and consensus in common practices are therefore important. They ensure interoperability, reliability, sustainability and compatibility throughout the technology development cycle. This minimizes the cost of implementation and reduces libraries dependence upon specific vendors.

The mission of the conference therefore is to create the opportunity and the platform for the three parties to get together. It serves as an exchange forum for great ideas to be shared, for needs to be understood, for concerns to be expressed, for best practices to be identified, for new developments and trends to be made aware of, for new products to be demonstrated, for standards to be discussed and formulated, and …… The endless wish list underscores the commitment of the conference organizer to achieve the most out of the UHF RFID technology.

The conference organizer, the Higher Education Libraries “UHF RFID Application” Working Group (hereafter, the Group), was formed in March 2010. Its founding members include libraries of the City University of Hong Kong, the Tsinghua University and the Shanghai Jiao Tong University. After the inaugural meeting in March 2011, the Group held its second meeting in Shenzhen on 20th August 2010 to meet with representatives from other libraries in the Mainland and Hong Kong to discuss UHF RFID data model standardization, among others. This horizontal integration within the library arena to face common issues in the adoption of a new technology is a start and has inspired the Group of the need to initiate the vertical connection with UHF RFID practitioners and organizations with expertise in standards. This conference therefore draws in representatives from these different stakeholders to discuss the way ahead for UHF RFID deployment in the library arena.

The conference consists of presentations under 4 different parts with different focuses. The four presentation parts are (i) The UHF RFID Technology, (ii) UHF RFID Library Data Model, (iii) Standardization Issues, and (iv) the Best Practices.