Purpose: To describe the first year of the implementation of radio frequency identification (RFID) in Middlesex University Learning Resources. Design/methodology/approach: The technology is explained in detail to set the scene. Information on the implementation is presented in chronological order. Findings: Problems which would generally be applicable to other installations in these early days of the use of RFID in libraries are pointed out. Practical implications: It is possible to implement RFID without too much lead time, although, had longer been available, some aspects would have gone more smoothly. Originality/value: Contains valuable information for other libraries considering or intending to introduce RFID.