Sotheby's Institute of Art has invested in an Intrepid electronic tagging system to safeguard its library collection

Electronic Article Surveillance Located in Bedford Square, central London, Sotheby's Institute of Art has been preparing students for careers in the international art world for over 36 years. It is among the world's leading institutions, offering MA and PhD degrees, specialist courses and overseas courses.

The Institute's library holds a collection of more than 17,000 books, catalogues and periodicals covering most elements of the history of art, fine art, decorative art and contemporary art. It also hosts dissertations and DVD-Roms.

Most of the library's collection can be borrowed as part of the Institute's ‘open access policy', so it made sense to introduce an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) system.

Library design consultant Demco Interiors duly specified Intrepid's 2020 Ellipse tagging system, which uses the latest electromagnetic technology as well as a wide variety of strips and labels. Library staff can easily deactivate and then reactivate the tags. If someone attempts to leave the library without checking an item out, the system's detection antennae positioned at the library entrance raise an audible alarm such that staff will be alerted.