The library district in Montgomery, Ala. has launched a new RFID system to deter theft of books and other library materials.

According to the Montgomery Advertiser, the district has had an ongoing issue with library books disappearing without a trace, which cost the system about $9,000 last year.

The district has more than 500,000 books in its collection. The districts entire book collection will be tagged for the new RFID system, which will also provide better inventory and support an optional self-checkout for library patrons.

Juliette Hampton Morgan Memorial Library will be one of the first in the district to receive the system. Currently, library personnel manually check the inventory every five to 10 years, and the process is said to as long as three months to complete.

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