Blockchains have been proposed as a solution for many problems in galleries, libraries, archives, and museums (GLAMs). Several organizations are researching potential applications of blockchain for GLAMs, such as building enhanced metadata systems, tracking digital ownership rights, and verifying that archived documents are not altered. However, there is currently no widely agreed upon definition of blockchain technology. Accurate terminology is needed to clarify what blockchains are and are not capable of, and to guide effective implementation and regulation. Researchers are working to develop standardized blockchain taxonomies to help distinguish between public and private systems and improve understanding of this emerging technology.

3. Blockchain Taxonomies and GLAMs
Mary Dama Mann
Spring 2018 | LIS 653-01
Professor Cristina Pattuelli
Possibilities of Blockchain in GLAMs
References
Buzzword of the Year: What Are We Talking About When We Talk About Blockchain?
● building enhanced metadata systems for libraries and data centers
● keeping track of digital-first sale rights and ownership
● connecting networks of libraries and universities
● supporting community-based borrowing and skill sharing programs
● verifying that documents aren’t altered while stored in archives
Several organizations, including the Institute of Museum and Library Services and the
Open Data Institute, are currently researching the possibilities and language of
blockchain specifically for GLAMs. Avenues of investigation include:
In a blockchain, the
history of an item
is attached to the
item record
Birch, D., et al. (2016).Towards ambient
accountability in financial services: shared
ledgers, translucent transactions and the
legacy of the great financial crisis. Journal of
Payment Strategy and Systems, 10(2): 118-
131.
Brown, J. L. (2018, February 1). Blockchain in
the library? Researchers explore potential
applications. EdSurge. Retrieved from
www.edsurge.com/news/2018-02-01-
blockchain-in-the-library-researchers-explore-
potential-applications
Busby, M. (2018, January 30). Blockchain is
this year's buzzword – but can it outlive the
hype? The Guardian. Retrieved from
www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jan/30/
blockchain-buzzword-hype-open-source-
ledger-bitcoin
Iansiti, M., & Lakhani, K. R. (2017, February).
The Truth About Blockchain. Harvard Business
Review. Retrieved from hbr.org/2017/01/the-
truth-about-blockchain
Jeffries, A. (2018, March 07). 'Blockchain' is
meaningless. The Verge. Retrieved from
www.theverge.com/2018/3/7/17091766/blockch
ain-bitcoin-ethereum-cryptocurrency-meaning
ODI: Might blockchain have a role to play in the
future of archiving? (n.d.). Open Data Institute.
Retrieved from theodi.org/project/might-
blockchain-have-a-role-to-play-in-the-future-of-
archiving
Walch, A. (2017, March 25). The Path of the
Blockchain Lexicon (and the Law). Review of
Banking and Financial Law, 36.
The term “blockchain” has been extolled as
the solution to everything from missing
identity documentation to jewelry theft to bad
peanut butter. In January 2018, The
Guardian named it “buzzword of the year.”
But do we know what blockchain is? A
blockchain can be public or private,
distributed or contained. It could be a
database managed by an organization, or a
global ledger whose entries are verified by
individuals known as “miners.”
Confusing or inaccurate language can lead
to bad implementation or regulation.. For
example, blockchain is not necessarily
“immutable” as advertised - both Bitcoin and
Ethereum have had rollbacks..
“It’s difficult to have a conversation about
advancing a technology or using it when we
all mean different things when we speak
about it”
- Victoria Lemieux, head of the blockchain research
cluster at the University of British Columbia
A widely accepted taxonomy for blockchain
could clarify the difference between public
and private blockchains, and help trim
misleading language.
- The University of British Columbia
is helping develop a blockchain
terminology standard for the
International Organization for
Standardization (ISO)
- Individual research groups have
proposed taxonomies as well, such
as this one to the right, by Brown,
Birch and Parulava for the Journal of
Payment Strategy and Systems
Proposed shared ledger taxonomy (Birch, et al, 2016)
Standardization Is a Work In Progress