Security detection
Protect your collection without disrupting the entrance
RFID and Tattle-Tape™ gates with wide, accessible aisles. Built-in visitor counting tracks entries and exits without identifying users.
RFID gate ultra at Oak Creek Public Library, Wisconsin.
The gate range
Two technologies. Multiple configurations.
RFID gates at Gwinnett County Public Library, Georgia.
RFID DETECTION
RFID gates
The RFID gate range detects RFID tags embedded in your materials. Configuration updates for alarms, LED settings, and firmware are managed remotely by Bibliotheca, with no site visit required.
- Clear panel design on both models
- Remote configuration handled by Bibliotheca support
- Multiple units can be combined for wider entrances (RFID gate & RFID gate ultra)
- Pedestal spacing up to 68 inches / 172.7 cm (RFID gate ultra)
- Single-pedestal configuration for spaces where standard layouts will not fit
- Special aisle configurations for hard-to-detect media
- Integrated bi-directional people counter across all gate models
- Embedded LCD Panel for backup metrics tracking
- Multiple LED lighting options to tailor your gates to your space
Electromagnetic detection
Tattle-Tape™ gates
The Tattle-Tape™ gate range detects electromagnetic security strips in any orientation and distinguishes them from common metal objects, helping to minimise false alarms. Choose interchangeable graphic panels for library branding or community art, or a transparent mirrored panel with ambient lighting.
- Detects EM strips in any orientation
- Seven selectable alarm colors, plus a cycle mode
- Interchangeable graphic panels (Tattle-Tape™ gate)
- Clear mirrored panel with ambient lighting (Tattle-Tape™ gate clear)
- 36-inch (91.4 cm) ADA- and DDA-compliant aisle, with expansion up to 42 inches (106.7 cm)
- Integrated bi-directional people counter
- Safe for all magnetic media
Dual Tattle-Tape™ gate clear installation at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, Texas.
User privacy is built into our product specification
Libraries protect the right to read freely. Our gates are built around that principle.
Data Specification | Security Detection · all models |
|---|---|
What the system records
| Anonymous entry and exit counts, plus alarm events. On RFID gate models, an alarm can also identify the item that caused it – its ID, title and loan status, retrieved from your ILS. Tattle-Tape™ gates detect the security strip only; no item data is ever read. |
What it never records | Who the user is. No identities, no images, no borrowing histories linked to people. |
Retention you control | You decide how long data is kept. Export or delete it according to your own schedule. |
External security systems | Auxiliary contacts can signal systems such as CCTV where local policy requires it. Your team decides if and when. |
Standards alignment | Our data practices support the American Library Association’s principles of data minimization and user confidentiality. |
Tattle-Tape™ gate clear at Brigham Young University Library, Utah.
staffConnect gate
Reliable gate reporting, without the manual work
staffConnect gate runs as a background service, continuously collecting visitor-count and alarm data from all connected gates. Data flows to libraryConnect LINK without any action required from staff.
Reports remain accurate across shift changes, restarts and busy periods. The system works in the background so the team can focus on the library floor.
- Automatic collection of visitor counts and alarm activity
- Centralized reporting in libraryConnect LINK
- Consistent data across shifts and locations
- Visitor counts that do not identify patrons
- Cover every public entrance for complete reporting
RFID gates at Cologne Public Library, Germany.
Web-based access
View alerts from any device
Alerts and reports are available in a browser through libraryConnect LINK. Staff can check activity from any desk, a shared workstation or a tablet on the library floor. Access is role-based, so each person sees only what they need.
- Browser access to alerts and reports
- Alerts within seconds of a gate event
- LMS integration via SIP2 for item status validation
- Works with most LMS platforms (only SIP2 communication is required)
- Advanced reporting on footfall and alerts via libraryConnect LINK
Accurate detection, fewer false alarms
Every false alarm can mean a member of staff stopping a user who has done nothing wrong; Bibliotheca gates are engineered to make that moment rare. LED and audible alerts activate when an item that has not been checked out passes through, while the gates remain quiet the rest of the time.
- Configurable alarm pattern and volume
- Seven alarm colours plus cycle mode on Tattle-Tape™ & RFID Gates
- Aisle indicators and directional exit alerts
- Triggering mode reduces energy use
- Optional connections to CCTV and other systems
For collections with a high proportion of media that can be harder to detect, closer pedestal spacing may be recommended. Our team reviews your entrance and collection mix before recommending a layout.
Wide enough for everyone
Up to 68 inches (172.7 cm) between pedestals. Room for wheelchairs, pushchairs and groups moving through together.
- Single-pedestal configurations for constrained spaces
- 42-inch (106.7 cm) ADA- and DDA-compliant aisle on Tattle-Tape™ models
- Special configurations for hard-to-detect media
- Visual alert options for sensory-friendly hours
- ADAAmericans with Disabilities Act (US)
- DDADisability Discrimination Act (UK)
- CE CE marking — European conformity
- FCC Federal Communications Commission (US)
- IC Industry Canada radio standards
- cULus UL listed for the US & Canada — product safety
- CSACanadian Standards Association
- RCM Regulatory Compliance Mark (Australia & New Zealand)
- ETSI European Telecommunications Standards Institute
After installation
What happens after installation
A gate is a long-term relationship. Reliability matters long after installation day.
We’ve used Bibliotheca for our self-service machines and security gates for years, so we know how reliable the hardware is.
Adam Webb
Executive Director, Garland County Library
Regional support
Your library is connected with the appropriate Bibliotheca team or authorised partner for your market.
Clear warranty and service terms
Warranty coverage, maintenance options, and service responsibilities are defined in your proposal before installation.
Installation planned with your team
We coordinate site requirements, timing and handover with your library to help minimise disruption.
RFID gates at Realm Library, Australia.
ECOSYSTEM INTEGRATION
Works with the rest of your system
Bibliotheca security gates are designed to connect with other products in the Bibliotheca ecosystem. Alarm configurations, firmware updates and reporting are all managed remotely through libraryConnect LINK. For libraries using open+ for unstaffed service hours, gates can be integrated to maintain collection security without requiring staff on site.
Gate monitoring and visitor analytics running in the background and are reported to libraryConnect LINK.
Central management for all gates and Bibliotheca devices across your branches.
Keep your space secure during unstaffed hours with gate integration.
Planning a new build or refurbishment?
Request architect files and installation guidance for your project drawings, including base plate, direct-mount, and buried-cable options.
Frequently asked questions
Tattle-Tape™ gates use electromagnetic technology to detect active security strips applied to library materials. RFID gates detect RFID tags embedded in items and can use an LMS connection to identify the item that triggered an alarm, including its title and loan status. Tattle-Tape™ gates do not read item information. The right technology generally depends on how your collection is currently secured and processed.
RFID gate ultra supports spacing of up to 68 inches (172.7 cm) between pedestals, providing room for wheelchairs, pushchairs and groups moving through the entrance. Tattle-Tape™ models support a 42-inch (106.7 cm) ADA- and DDA-compliant aisle. Single-pedestal and specialised configurations are also available for constrained entrances. Our team can review your floor plan, collection and local accessibility requirements before recommending a layout.
Yes. Libraries with multiple branches can use different RFID and Tattle-Tape™ gate models based on the entrance, collection and security requirements of each location. staffConnect gate and libraryConnect LINK bring visitor-count and alarm data from supported connected gates into one centralised view.
Yes. Alarm volume, light settings and alert patterns can be configured based on the gate model and library environment. RFID and Tattle-Tape™ gates offer seven selectable alarm colours plus a cycle mode. On RFID gate models, Bibliotheca support can also manage alarm, LED and firmware configuration remotely.
staffConnect gate runs as a background service on the library’s network. It continuously collects visitor-count and alarm data from connected gates and sends it to libraryConnect LINK. Staff can view alerts and reports through a web browser from an authorised computer or tablet. Access is role-based, and RFID alarm events can be validated against the library’s LMS through SIP2.
Talk to us
Let us help you find the right gate configuration and software setup for your library.