Blockchain in the Library? Researchers Explore Potential Applications
Blockchain is a hot topic—the buzzword of the year, according to The Guardian. The technology behind Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, blockchain promises a new, decentralized way of recording and storing data. Experts are speculating about its potential uses in business, law and education, and San José State University’s School of Information has received a $100,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to find out whether blockchain could be useful for libraries.
“I heard about blockchain at a conference about two years ago,” says Sue Alman, the project’s co-principal investigator and a lecturer at San Jose State who teaches a course on emerging technologies. “There was a presentation from the Institute for the Future about using blockchain for credentialing—creating one authenticated source where an individual could store all their credentials. I thought, wouldn’t it be great if a library or information center could use that and people could store their credentials there?”
As she investigated further, Alman realized that blockchain has a number of other potential applications in information science. It could be used to build an enhanced metadata system for libraries and data centers, to keep track of digital-first sale rights and ownership, to connect networks of libraries and universities, or even to support community-based borrowing and skill sharing programs.
The IMLS grant will enable Alman and her colleagues to pursue a yearlong conversation around potential uses for blockchain in libraries. “People in our profession have been talking about blockchain, but there hasn’t been movement toward it until now,” Alman says. “As a result of the grant, we’re planning an online global conference in June on blockchain technology as part of Library 2.0, our ongoing virtual conference series.” The conference, scheduled for August, will bring together 20 to 30 experts in libraries, technology and urban planning to discuss the topic and make recommendations for next steps.
Project co-leader Sandy Hirsch, director of San Jose State’s School of Information, was drawn to the idea of hosting conversations about blockchain. “It seemed like a really interesting and important area for our school to take a leadership role,” she says.
