The Digital Learning Hub at the Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) have initiated a project, the Near Field Communication (NFC) Project, to investigate the potential of using the latest generation of smartphones in the provision of library services to users. NFC builds upon Radio-frequency identification (RFID) to establish a two-way communication channel between a user’s mobile device and an institutional portal. This will allow the secure transfer of personal data (such as user information, history and passwords) between the two endpoints. Using the NFC feature, and a specially-written mobile application, users will scan the RFID tags embedded in Wintec library materials, and check out this material at the initial point of contact. In essence, the project will enable students to use their mobile phone as their library ID card.