What's trending in blockchain technology and its potential uses in libraries
| Pages | 17-18 |
| Published date | 04 November 2019 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/LHTN-09-2019-0062 |
| Date | 04 November 2019 |
| Author | Adetoun A. Oyelude |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library technology,Library & information services |
What’s trending in blockchain technology and its
potential uses in libraries
Adetoun A. Oyelude
Introduction
Blockchain is a relatively new
technology used to verify and store
transaction records for online
cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Beyond
online currencies, the blockchain has
potential uses in health care, education
and many other fields. Blockchain is
described by many people, but in
essence is a type of distributed ledgerfor
maintaining a permanent and tamper-
proof record of transactional data. A
blockchain functions as a decentralized
database that is managed by computers
belonging to a peer-to-peer (P2P)
network (www.bohyunkim.net/blog/
archives/3967# .XV6ysehKjIU). Each of
the computers in the distributed network
maintains a copyof the ledger to prevent
a single point of failure (SPOF) and all
copies are updated and validated
simultaneously.
Blockchains were commonly
associated withdigital currencies such as
Bitcoin, or alternate versions of Bitcoin
like Bitcoin Cash. Today, blockchain
applications are being explored in many
industries as a secure and cost-effective
way to create and manage a distributed
database and maintainrecords for digital
transactions of all types. The San Jose
University (SJSU) iSchool initiated the
first major examination of blockchain
anditspotentialimpactoninformation
services as reported by Jessie Leigh
Brown in a 2018article.
How blockchain works
Explained in ordinary terms, “a
blockchain ledger consists of two types
of records, individual transactions and
blocks. The first block consists of a
header and data that pertains to
transactions taking place within a set
time period. The block’s timestamp is
used to help create an alphanumeric
string called a hash. After the first block
has been created, each subsequent block
in the ledger uses the previous block’s
hash to calculate its own hash. Before a
new block can be added to the chain, its
authenticity must be verified by a
computational process called validation
or consensus. At this point in the
blockchain process, a majority of nodes
in the network must agree the new
block’s hash has been calculated
correctly”.
Lots of different parties can read and
write transactions to the database.
Instead of a third party checking those
transactions, the blockchain has a built
in consensus search mechanism that
checks transactions to make sure they
are good. transactions of all types.
In the workings of a Blockchain,
before a new block can be added to the
chain, its authenticity must be verified
by a computational process called
validation or consensus. The network of
chains making up the blockchain thus
are validations of validations of yet
other validations, making up the whole.
In libraries, the technology for using
blockchain can be used for different
processes. This functions as a
verification system that is in itself
verifying another system.
Uses of blockchain
Blockchain can be used to build an
enhanced metadata center, used for
protecting Digital First Scale rights, for
supporting community based collections
and for facilitating partnerships across
organizations. Read more on how
blockchain can be used in libraries at
https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/
2019/03/01/library-blockchain-reaction/.
It’s trending!
CarrieSmithinaMarch1,2019article
reported that an International Museum and
Library Society National Forum held in
2018 on blockchain’s potential in libraries
identified the fact that libraries can use
blockchain for interlibrary loan, scholarly
publishing, credentialing and the
development of a universal library card.
Blockchain could also be useful in
answering reference questions according
to the American Libraries magazine
(https://americanlibraries.magazine.org/
2019/03/01/library.blockchain-reaction/).
Generally, some suggestions in the
past have been that Blockchain could be
deployed in modernizing procedures to
borrow books from libraries. Cabello
et al. (2017) proposed that library patrons
can lend books directly to other patrons
without first returning it to the library.
Such transactions could be made as long
as the patrons are registered with a
participatory library. Law libraries also
could use blockchain to authenticate
primary sources, and could change views
on intellectual property because of the
links and verifications of databases. As
Blockchain links to databases, it could be
used for provenance tracking or media
rights management.
Blockchain is being used as a business
solution. Applications are being built
directly into blockchains to create smart
contracts that store debt registers or execute
specific instructions in accordance with
given events at specified times. Apart from
business applications, blockchain could
revolutionize the ways that institutions store
personal information. “Sony is exploring
blockchain to store student information -
registration documents, attendance, grades,
and even the lesson plans that previous
teachers have used – that could then easily
be transferred between schools as students
move or graduate into new institutions.”
(visit www.engadget.com/2017/08/09/
sony-blockchain-education-records/).
Southern New Hampshire University
is also reported to be planning to pilot
a program to provide one thousand
alumni with blockchain-based digital
credentials – the digital credentials
will not replace paper degrees or
traditional transcripts but will serve as
LIBRARY HITECH NEWS Number 9 2019, pp. 17-18, V
CEmerald Publishing Limited, 0741-9058, DOI 10.1108/LHTN-09-2019-0062 17
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