There’s been a lot of hyperbole about the transformative potential of blockchain, but how might librarians and information scientists use it, and what are the pitfalls and traps for the unwary? Martin Hamilton presentation given at CILIP Blockchain Briefing 2020, 27 February 2020

1. Honey, I blockchained
the library!
1
Martin Hamilton
Principal, martinh.net
@martin_hamilton
Honey, I blockchained the library! @martin_hamilton

2. 1. App Safari
2.Tar pits &
bear traps
3. Blockchain
MacGuffin

3. 3
App Safari
Honey, I blockchained the library! @martin_hamilton

4. Provenance?There’s an app for that…
Honey, I blockchained the library! @martin_hamilton4

5. Provenance?There’s an app for that…
Honey, I blockchained the library! @martin_hamilton5

6. Provenance?There’s an app for that…
Honey, I blockchained the library! @martin_hamilton6

7. Provenance?There’s an app for that…
Honey, I blockchained the library! @martin_hamilton7

8. Identity – no one ring to bind them all?
Honey, I blockchained the library! @martin_hamilton8

9. Identity – no one ring to bind them all?
Honey, I blockchained the library! @martin_hamilton9

10. Identity – no one ring to bind them all?
Honey, I blockchained the library! @martin_hamilton10

11. Identity – no one ring to bind them all?
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12. Credentials, digitalised?
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13. Credentials, digitalised?
Honey, I blockchained the library! @martin_hamilton13

14. Credentials, digitalised?
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15. Credentials, digitalised?
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16. 16
Tar pits &
bear traps
Honey, I blockchained the library! @martin_hamilton

17. Single point of failure…
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18. Single point of failure…
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19. Single point of failure…
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20. Single point of failure…
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21. Questions to ask
Honey, I blockchained the library! @martin_hamilton21
• How dependent are you on the
vendor? e.g.
• Cloud resources
• Mobile app backend
• Do you run your own blockchain
node?
• Do you hold a copy of the code in
escrow?
• Who can add stuff to your
blockchain?
• Where is the data actually stored?
• How reliable/resilient is this bit?
Blockchain reference architecture, diagram courtesy IBM
• How do they handle GDPR
subject access, right to
forget etc?
• What protocols, standards
etc are they interoperable
with?

22. ”The fewer moving parts, the better…”
Honey, I blockchained the library! @martin_hamilton22
Blockchain reference architecture,
diagram courtesy IBM

23. 23
Blockchain
MacGuffin
Honey, I blockchained the library! @martin_hamilton

24. Giving 0urselves a license to innovate
Honey, I blockchained the library! @martin_hamilton24
Could blockchain’s real success be as a plot device that suddenly gives
everyone permission to think the unthinkable, and reimagine what might
have been perceived as the most fundamental aspects of organisations,
industries and working processes?

25. Giving 0urselves a license to innovate
Honey, I blockchained the library! @martin_hamilton25
Photo CC BY-SA Opensource.com
How do we
respond as people
and as
organisations to
desire lines like
shadow IT?
Do we know what
our risk appetite
actually is?
Is it OK to get
things wrong?
What is the
opportunity cost
to try something
new?

26. 26
Wrap up
Honey, I blockchained the library! @martin_hamilton

27. Wrap up
Honey, I blockchained the library! @martin_hamilton27
• Lots of interest in blockchain for
libraries and (information)
science
• Multiple areas of promise
identified
• But many key areas heavily
regulated, e.g. identity, verification
• Parallels with the early Web –
new tech and paradigms
• There’s always been a Byzantine
Fault Tolerance element to my work
But, and it’s a big but…
• Beware of geeks bearing grifts!

28. Wrap up
Honey, I blockchained the library! @martin_hamilton28
• Lots of interest in blockchain for
libraries and (information)
science
• Multiple areas of promise
identified
• But many key areas heavily
regulated, e.g. identity, verification
• Parallels with the early Web –
new tech and paradigms
• There’s always been a Byzantine
Fault Tolerance element to my work
But, and it’s a big but…
• Beware of geeks bearing grifts!

29. Many thanks!
Honey, I blockchained the library! @martin_hamilton29
Except where otherwise noted, this
work is licensed under CC-BY
Martin Hamilton
Principal
martinh.net
Email: m@martinh.net
Twitter: @martin_hamilton
Phone: +44 7971 989487