"I think we are really trendsetting for public schools," said Teresa Ortiz, library media specialist at Red Mountain Middle School. "Before ITG installed RFID, I did not have quality time to spend collaborating with teachers to build new learning programs for students. Now I am able to devote much more energy toward collaboration and do what library media specialists are supposed to do-teach!"
The Red Mountain Middle School opened in the fall of 2007 with approximately 900 students. Its library collection began with nearly 9,000 volumes and will balloon to almost 20,000 by next school year. Students also have thousands of digital resources, e-books and an entire reference collection available on-line. The new RFID system includes Apex XpressCheck patron self-service kiosks, Apex PowerReader wand for inventory purposes, Apex RFID DirectReader software component and Apex RFID security pedestals.
As a result of the new system, the library staff has had more time to write grants, develop learning programs and teach students how to use the resources in the library. The DirectReader has been useful in allowing the library to integrate RFID technology into existing interactive library system staff applications without the use of SIP or any other communications protocol. In addition, inventory processes were reduced to half a day instead of two and a half weeks. Now that Ortiz is no longer tied to the checkout counter, she is developing the curriculum for an Internet research course that teaches the students how to use the Internet effectively.
"Teresa's ultimate goal was to find a way for the library staff to spend more time directly contributing to the students' learning," said Ron Birchard, Account Executive for ITG's Western Regional Office. "When she discovered RFID, she knew she had found a solution that would help her achieve her goal. The students are now receiving the benefits thanks to Teresa's commitment to improving the school's library."
