When it made its appearance, some saw it as something that would replace bar codes and make them obsolescent; others imagined applications for coding and controlling human beings.

Also known as transponders, RFID tags are essentially memories equipped with a radio transceiver, often inserted in the same silicon chip.

The tag is excited by an external apparatus (fixed or portable) that establishes a dialogue via radio and then returns its identification code or any other information contained. Rewritable tags can also be remote programmed with additional data, or reprogrammed entirely with a new "identity".

The overall project addressed in LIBER-IMMS aims at establishing an European compliant bask of services for lending libraries where RFID technology is used for tracing objects and activities, while internet and mobile systems are used for interactive messaging services to citizens.

The image provide the state of the art of a prototype installation: the RFID antenna is installed under the table, the detected items are listed on the touch screen and the printer will output the lending certication for the user, recognized by his own badge.