A COUNCIL is to spend £40,000 replacing the electronic machines used in its five libraries to check books in and out.

Blackburn with Darwen Council digital boss Paul Fleming has authorised the spending on the new radio-frequency identification (RFID) devices

They are used at Blackburn Central Library, Darwen Library, Cherry Tree Library, Mill Hill Library and Roman Road Library.

In a report he says: “The RFID machines in the libraries enable customers to check out/in books via self-service. Due to the current solution going out of support the decision was made to replace these. The original RFID solution for council libraries was implemented at the start of 2015.

“Due to the end of support on Windows 7 and the current devices going end of support, a business case was submitted to the IT departments design authority where it was decided to progress with replacing the current solution. The current RFID solution is on Windows 7 which is not supported and can be a security risk. The current solution is no longer being supported by the supplier.

“Revenue savings were made by the department when RFID was first implemented, should the existing solution fail and the Council have to put manual processes in place it is estimated that this could cost the Council £120,000 per annum.”