A Smart Guide to eRLS RFID Library Stock Control & Security Solutions — How to Prepare for The National Year of Reading
As we look ahead to 2026, designated The National Year of Reading, it’s the perfect time to ensure your library is prepared, protected, and optimally set up to support increased usage, new initiatives and evolving learner needs – all while saving time and money.
At PSP Asset Protection, we believe that a vital piece of your library infrastructure is a robust RFID stock control and security system. That’s why our eRLS RFID solution is designed to help schools, colleges, universities and healthcare libraries stay ahead of the curve — safeguarding materials, streamlining workflows and delivering transparent, efficient operations.
Here’s a detailed guide to what eRLS RFID does, how it benefits librarians and library managers — and why UHF (Ultra High Frequency) RFID is a reliable, cost-effective technology for libraries looking to be future-proof.
What does eRLS RFID do?
The eRLS RFID system (Powered by PSP) offers an integrated set of functions to manage and protect your library collection:
- Stock control – Tagging each item with a UHF RFID label enables you to instantly identify and locate items, quickly perform stock-takes, identify missing books and monitor reshelving. For example, at Keyll Darree Health and Social Care Higher Education Centre, the installation reduced the stock-take process from around a month to just one day plus a few checks.
- Security – The system monitors items exiting the library via small-form, discreet RFID-enabled panels. At the Bar of Ireland Law Library, staff used the system to reduce unauthorised borrowing and gain full security-log visibility.
- Self-Service & Automation – With RFID, you can set up self-service kiosks and smart returns units (so users can issue/return independently) and free up staff time. At Medway NHS Foundation Trust Library, self-service and a bespoke smart returns bin enabled 24/7 365 access while reducing staff intervention.
- Improved User Experience – More efficient check-in/checkout; fewer errors; more time for staff to focus on strategy rather than manual processes. At Lancing College, the Head Librarian reported tagging was fast and the system much slicker than the old barcode-based solution.
- Reporting & Data Insights – Tight integration with your LMS means you can generate meaningful data on usage, stock movement, loss and service performance.
Benefits for librarians and library managers
By adopting eRLS RFID, your library gains:
- Greater visibility and control
With RFID tagging, you are no longer in the dark about what you don’t know — you can track and monitor circulation, locate items fast, and spot missing or misplaced items before they impact users. - Time savings and efficiency
Manual barcode scanning, one-by-one checking and slow shelf-by-shelf audits become things of the past. Staff can redirect time to outreach, user engagement, curriculum support and digital initiatives. - Better security and reduction of shrinkage
By automatically monitoring item movement, you reduce unauthorised loans, theft, mis-shelving or loss. At the Bar of Ireland Law Library, the logs enabled the team to trace items and reduce unauthorised borrowing. - Future-proofing your library infrastructure
The shift to digital, remote access, hybrid learning and extended opening hours means your systems need to keep up. eRLS RFID allows you to innovate (self-service, smart returns, 24/7 access) quickly and reliably. - Improved user satisfaction
When users experience fast, efficient, reliable service — and staff are freed up to do more proactive work — your service reputation improves, opening the door to more reading, better engagement and stronger learning outcomes. - Support for major initiatives like The National Year of Reading
With increased focus on reading, outreach programmes, author events, stock rotation and user engagement in 2026, having an efficient foundation means you can scale up activity without letting collection control slip.
Why UHF RFID technology is the best choice
When you choose RFID, you have options — commonly HF (High Frequency) vs UHF (Ultra High Frequency). Here’s why UHF (the technology used by our eRLS system) is superior for modern libraries:
- Quicker read rates
UHF allows multiple tags to be read simultaneously (bulk reads) and at higher speeds. This means much faster check-in/out and stock-takes. - More items processed at once
Because of multiple-tag reads and less need for precise alignment, you can handle large batches of items far more efficiently. - Greater read range
UHF has a longer read range than HF, meaning items don’t need to be aligned exactly next to the reader. This enables more flexible hardware placement (e.g. ceiling or wall-mounted antennas, or even floor-concealed) and quicker processes. For example, at Al-Maktoum College, they appreciated the flexible antenna location and space-saving benefits. - Lower cost per tag
UHF tags tend to be cheaper in bulk than HF tags, making whole-collection tagging more financially viable — especially important if you’re preparing for a high-usage year like 2026. - Latest technology & future-proofing
UHF is the direction library RFID systems are heading. By adopting it, you ensure compatibility with future hardware, new RFID standards, mass-processing workflows, self-service innovations and emerging library models.
In short: choosing UHF via eRLS RFID means you’re not just solving today’s problems — you’re investing in a system that will serve your library for years to come.
Mythbusting
A quick note on some of the things you may have heard about RFID technology, particularly UHF. Namely, that RFID is complex to deploy and use, and causes a lot of disruption; it’s expensive and therefore, only for large, well-funded libraries; it’s prone to interference and incompatibility with existing library systems; and UHF is long range and will pick up items that are not meant to be read.
On the contrary… As experts in the library space since 1978, we know that eRLS RFID is a simple (to implement and use), future-proof, continually evolving solution that can be deployed rapidly (via plug-and-play installation) to turn your library into a 24/7 365 secure, user-friendly resource for many years to come.
But don’t just take our word for it…
Real-world customer results
Here are some concrete examples of how eRLS RFID has delivered results:
- Norfolk & Norwich University Hospitals NHS Trust deployed eRLS in April 2025. Their previous RFID system had failed; the new installation improved the issue/return process and removed bulky security gates. The library manager reported:
“The entrance to the library is so much more appealing … our previous security system had stopped working and we wanted our new library to use the best solution.” - Keyll Darree Higher Education Centre upgraded to eRLS in December 2022. Stock-take time has reduced drastically and users appreciated the library’s self-service capabilities and greater accessibility.
- The Bar of Ireland Law Library switched to eRLS; they gained better item traceability, faster bulk cataloguing and a significant drop in unauthorised loans.
- Lancing College found the installation smooth, the hardware sleek, and the system vastly improved over legacy barriers.
- Kenilworth School and Sixth Form recently replaced security gates with a new UHF solution and were impressed by the value for money and that it works seamlessly with the Infiniti library management system.
These are just a few examples you can show colleagues or board members when making the business case for investment.
Checklist: “Do I need a stock control system?”
Use this checklist to evaluate your library’s readiness and whether eRLS RFID could deliver measurable benefits:
- Are items frequently lost or missing from your collection? (In school libraries, popular fiction, Manga and study guides often go walkies)
- Are there discrepancies between the catalogue records and the physical stock? (In other words: do you know what you don’t know?)
- Is manual stock checking and cataloguing taking up significant time, or simply unachievable?
- Is stock regularly misplaced, reshelved incorrectly or not returned promptly?
- Is it difficult to produce accurate reports or audit your collection?
- Do you find bulk item handling and processing slow or inefficient?
- Are you looking to extend opening hours without increasing staff workload?
- Is damage, wear or misplacement of materials a recurring problem affecting the value and integrity of your collection?
- Would you benefit from automated monitoring and management of stock for greater accuracy and efficiency?
If you mostly answered “yes” to these questions, then you could really benefit from eRLS RFID — now is the time to act.
If you mostly answered “no”, then well done! You seem to have it all covered. But even then, you may want to explore how stock control can support future expansion or efficiency gains.
Next steps
We hope this guide gives you the insight and clarity to make the right decisions for your library. With The National Year of Reading 2026 on the horizon, now is the strategic moment to secure your library’s foundation, ready for increased engagement, usage and outreach. eRLS RFID from PSP Asset Protection offers you the technology, flexibility and support to go forward with confidence.
📞 Book a free, no-obligation consultation with our friendly team before year-end budget deadlines. We’ll help you assess your library environment, recommend tag/hardware options, project timelines and demonstrate how eRLS integrates with your management system (and with your goals for 2026 and beyond). We’ve been doing this for 47 years, so we know what we’re talking about!
Don’t wait — future-proof your library, empower your team, protect your collection, and make next year a standout success. Contact PSP Asset Protection today!