ThirdFactor | UK school swaps library cards for biometrics

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

A primary school in Manchester, UK is piloting a program in which students as young as four years old use fingerprints rather than library cards to check out books from the school library. The new program is meeting some opposition, according to a Popular Science article, in the form of concerned parents and privacy advocating groups.

The school insists that each child’s biometric data will be converted from an image into a digital code and if parents still take issue with the program, it is entirely voluntary for the child to join. Despite the assurances of data protection by the school, privacy advocates worry that such programs introducing children to biometric technology at a young age will lead to a trivializing of their own biometric data and a perspective that it is not something that needs to be personally protected.

Read the full story here.

Mass. library sets to debut RFID self-checkout system

Goodnow Library of Sudbury, Massachusetts is planning the debut of an enhanced RFID-enabled self-checkout system, according to The MetroWest Daily News.

Using a simple touch screen monitor, library patrons will be able to check out books, CDs and DVDs – up to 10 at a time – without the help from a librarian. Surrounding area libraries that have yet made the leap to RFID are using bar-code self-checkout lanes, which allow patrons to check out books one at a time using the same system that librarians use.

Frisco Public Library goes RFID

The Frisco Public Library, Frisco, Tex., reopened last week providing a faster way to check out and check in books and media materials. Volunteers worked for ten days while the library was closed to update more than 145,000 books, DVDs and CDs.

Bibliotheca expands service and support with Pitney Bowes

Bibliotheca Inc., provider of RFID solutions for libraries worldwide, announced collaboration with Pitney Bowes to expand the company’s geographical coverage and resources for serving library customers throughout the U.S.

Indian school installs biometrics to protect students

Bright Way College in Jankipuram in India has implemented a system developed by biometrics developer GI Biometric Solutions in hopes of better protecting its students from being sent home with people that are not supposed to be picking up the children, such as kidnappers, according to a Times of India article.

U.S. libraries pick up 3M RFID solutions

3M Library Systems announced several new customers from across the U.S. - in the Midwest, Eastern and Southwestern regions of the country - have selected 3M library solutions to suit the needs of their local communities and to better service their patrons.

GPS tracks Chicago area school bus riders

The Palos Heights School District 128 in Chicago is using GPS technology to track its students allowing the district to keep up with the student–when he or she first entered the school bus and when the student exited the district’s care.

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UK school swaps library cards for biometrics