Abstract: A library monitoring system includes a number of borrowable items. Each item has a radio frequency identification device mounted thereon and the radio frequency identification device has a unique identification code. A processing unit is coupled to a database containing an indication of the location of each library item and is coupled to a borrowing location, a borrowed item returning location and the returned item sorting location. The borrowed item returning location includes a receptacle into which the borrowed item is inserted. The receptacle includes an antenna which detects an insertion of library item having a radio frequency identification device mounted thereon. The borrowed item returning location responds to the insertion of a library item into the receptacle detects the identification code and sends the identification code corresponding to the returned library item to the processing unit.