National Library Board of Singapore selects Rafsec for major RFID label purchase

When the National Library Board of Singapore (NLB) was reviewing its latest purchase requirements for a new batch of RFID labels, a number of offers were assessed from leading RFID label suppliers.

Rafsec was awarded the contract to supply close to a million RFID labels in August 2003. The decision from NLB was based on Rafsec's ability to provide high quality, technically compliant and economical labels for the entire range of library materials, which include books, magazines, music scores, CDs, DVDs and videotapes.

The RFID labels supplied by Rafsec to NLB are specially designed for library RFID applications and manufactured using the latest high speed, high volume production technology, which is second to none.

The National Library Board takes pride in having the world's first RFID-enabled library system, with over 9 million items tagged with RFID labels. With the state-of-the-art RFID system, NLB has automated the loan and return of library items and reduced queuing times from 1.5 hours to less than five minutes during peak hours. RFID technology has also expedited the sorting of library items, resulting in quicker returns to the shelves. Stocktaking has been made much faster and easier by simply passing an RFID reader over the bookshelves. All this has enabled the National Library Board to save more than $50 million a year.

Since 1995, library loans at NLB have risen from 10 million to more than 30 million in 2002 - one of the highest loan rates among the world's metropolitan library systems.

"Rafsec is proud to be part of the National Library Board success story. It goes to show that when it comes to world-class RFID label supplies, there's no compromise in quality and competitive prices," said Edward Lu, Business Development Manager for Asia. "We have committed ourselves to the National Library Board to continue to provide the best and most economical RFID labels, now and in the future."

Rafsec specializes in the production and development of Card, Ticket and Label Transponders as well as In-Mould, Wooden Pallet and Garment Tags, all based on RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology. Rafsec was founded in 1997, and after two years of product development began the production of RFID transponders in Jyväskylä, Finland. Rafsec's headquarters and product development are located in Tampere, Finland, and the company also has sales offices in US, France, Netherlands and Singapore.

The National Library Board (NLB) was established on 1 September 1995 with the mission to continuously expand the learning capacity of the nation. NLB oversees the management of the National Library, two regional libraries, 20 community libraries and 26 community children's libraries as well as libraries belonging to government agencies, schools and private institutions. Its digital library, eLibraryHub, provides patrons with access to information resources and services any time, anywhere. Through its innovative use of technology and its collaboration with strategic partners, NLB ensures that library users have access to a rich array of information services and resources that are convenient, accessible and useful.

For more information, please contact:

Edward Lu, Business Development Manager, Asia
RAFSEC ASIA
5 Toh Guan Road East, #01-00
Singapore 608831
Tel. +65 6665 6125
Fax +65 6665 6121
Email edward.lu@rafsec.com
www.rafsec.com

Lee Siew Hoon
Asst Manager, Corporate Communications
National Library Board
DID: +65 6332 3341
Mobile: +65 9665 7191
Email: Siew_Hoon_LEE@nlb.gov.sg
www.nlb.gov.sg