Classifying Library Users’ Behavior through Analysis of Location Information Acquired using Radio Frequency Identification Technology

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to classify library users’ behavior through analysis of location information acquired using observation methods adapting Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Technology and to examine the advantage of this method and data acquired. The author conducted a user study to track traveling paths of users using the RFID system and questionnaire survey to acquire information on users’ attributes at the Chiyoda Public Library in 2012. Location information for 209 users was analyzed. Two perspectives were analyzed: 1) the extent and concentration of points visited by users and 2) the similarities of users’ traveling paths. The following results were obtained: 1) a high percentage of users who borrowed materials stayed in the library for a short time and visited particular bookshelves; users who did not borrow materials performed diversified behaviors and 2) Cluster one included a high percentage of users who wandered about the library looking for library materials; Cluster two included a high percentage of users who read materials in the library. These results indicate that this location information provides the most objective data available on library users’ behavior and that it is suitable for statistical analysis.