New study @ Blockchain
at the library, it will explore how the technology can connect and support
institutions
The
year-long project at San Jose State University will be funded by a grant from
the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Blockchain —
that cryptocurrency-associated, technology-turned-buzzword — could be coming to
your local library.
The San Jose
State University School of Information recently announced it had received a
$100,000 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to
study blockchain — a distributed ledger technology that has potential uses far
beyond bitcoin — for its uses in libraries, museums and other community
institutions.
The project
at San Jose State, which is in progress now and will conclude sometime this
summer, began as one of more than 150 proposals to the IMLS and was selected as
a winner of the “Community Anchor” category of grants — one of three categories
IMLS has. Currently, the project is in its “exploratory phase," according
to Sue Alman, an instructor in the SJSU School of Information who is serving as
co-principal investigator with Sandra Hirsh, director of the School of
Information.
While Alman
and Hirsh are using the grant to search for the most effective uses of
blockchain in libraries, there are some use cases already in mind in the
industry. The construction of enhanced metadata centers, connection to the
ISP-circumventing InterPlanetary File System and
broad networking capabilities are all potential benefits of blockchain,
according to the School of Information’s blockchain
website. Alman also says blockchain could be used for authenticating
student course credentials.
Blockchain
is gaining steam as a tool for educators across the pond as well. The ability to connect with other
institutions of learning, whether they be libraries, universities or any public
institution, is also promising to Alman and Hirsh.
“Could
libraries partner with urban planning to pull together all the community
services [using blockchain]?” Alman asks. “[Uses] are what we’re exploring
right now.”
The research
will be conducted and demonstrated through various methods. Alman and Hirsh
will maintain a dedicated blog on the website, which also notes more
potential use cases for information professionals curious about blockchain. A
list of international events and conferences related to the technology is also
available on the website, and Alman and Hirsh are looking for stakeholders and
experts to participate in their own National
Forum to be held in San Jose on Aug. 6. The forum will bring together 20 to
30 technology experts, urban planners and library leaders to recommend
directions that stakeholders should take to maximize blockchain utility in
libraries.
“We’re doing
a National Forum to determine exactly what people in our profession think
blockchain could do,” Alman told EdScoop. “Oftentimes, people will chase after
a technology and it's really not applicable, so we want to know what blockchain
is and what can it realistically do. So, one of the goals of the project is to
make recommendations for the profession.”
Source | http://edscoop.com/blockchain-library-study-san-jose-state
Regards
Prof. Pralhad Jadhav
Master of Library &
Information Science (NET Qualified)
Senior Manager @ Knowledge
Repository
Khaitan & Co
Twitter Handle | @Pralhad161978
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