IoT-based approach to locate books in library system for integration with the automated library systems

Abstract

The main challenge in a large library is to retrieve a book effectively, where traditional barcode- or RFID-based systems require significant infrastructure and complex inventory management. An integrated IoT system consisting of LED-assisted shelf identification and an interactive web visualization application is proposed in this study for enhancing the reliability and effectiveness of automated library book retrieval. In this, a networked microcontroller architecture is used for real-time identification of the exact physical location of books by allowing users to visually locate the required books to be retrieved using LED indicators. Along with this, an interactive web visualization application is developed using HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, JSON, and MySQL for visualization of the shelf real-time location and location of the book within the shelf. The proposed system offers a cost-effective, scalable, and user-friendly solution compared to conventional RFID or barcode-based systems. Experimental testing of the proposed system passed all 9 tests conducted for its conformance in identifying the required book locations across four distinct test conditions. Beyond the library book retrieval application, the proposed system architecture has potential applications in smart warehouses, storage inventory management, and application as a supporting architecture for future systems such as autonomous service robots.