Infineon Technologies has developed with others a self-service system for users of Vienna’s new multimedia main library. The inventory includes 240,000 books as well as 60,000 CDs and DVDs. The items have been equipped with radio chips for data transmission. Use of the new RFID (radio frequency identification) chips permits library users to check out books, CDs or DVDs themselves, without waiting in line at a service counter. The RFID chips from Infineon also provide security functions to prevent theft. Seven read and write units are used to embed the RFID chips into the books and to store the information on the chips. Another six read and write units are available to the attendants to register the checked-out media. In addition, four self-service terminals, so-called EasyChecks, are available.

Infineon Technologies has developed with others a self-service system for users of Vienna's new multimedia main library. The inventory includes 240,000 books as well as 60,000 CDs and DVDs. The items have been equipped with radio chips for data transmission. Use of the new RFID (radio frequency identification) chips permits library users to check out books, CDs or DVDs themselves, without waiting in line at a service counter. The RFID chips from Infineon also provide security functions to prevent theft.
Seven read and write units are used to embed the RFID chips into the books and to store the information on the chips. Another six read and write units are available to the attendants to register the checked-out media. In addition, four self-service terminals, so-called EasyChecks, are available.

Infineons "my-d" chip implemented as an RFID label consists of four parts: chip and antenna that together form the inlay, as well as the top and base material of the labels, which is paper or plastic in most cases. The label has a size of about 8x5cm and is applied to the book next to the barcode. For the application to CDs and DVDs, a special label was developed that has a diameter of 30mm and is directly applied to the image or sound medium.

The project was carried out with Infineons partner ekz, a library equipment supplier based in Reutlingen (Germany) and Swiss partner Bibliotheca Library Systems, a worldwide systems integrator that specialises in libraries. The Vienna system was implemented with some work carried out at Infineons design centre in Graz, Austria.

Bibliotheca markets the library system worldwide. In addition to Vienna, Bibliotheca and Infineon have already equipped libraries in Switzerland, Belgium, and Germany. In Germany, more libraries in Stuttgart, Kronberg, Bonn, Bad Homburg, and Mittweida are planned to follow this year.