A library monitoring system includes a number of borrowable items. Each
item has a radio frequency identification device mounted thereon and the
radio frequency identification device has a unique identification code. A
processing unit is coupled to a database containing an indication of the
location of each library item and is coupled to a borrowing location, a
borrowed item returning location and the returned item sorting location.
The borrowed item returning location includes a receptacle into which the
borrowed item is inserted. The receptacle includes an antenna which
detects an insertion of library item having a radio frequency
identification device mounted thereon. The borrowed item returning
location responds to the insertion of a library item into the receptacle
detects the identification code and sends the identification code
corresponding to the returned library item to the processing unit. The
processing unit responds to the received identification code, updates the
information on the database relating to the returned library item to
indicate that the returned library item has been returned to the library.
