Music Collections in Academic Libraries: Taking Advantage of a New Age of Technology

in Decentralization & Data Management

Elisha Jewell & Professor Joy Marie Doan
University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Abstract Music Collection & Score What Now?

Music collections in academic libraries continue to oscillate their need to Acquisition What are the potential benefits of
provide patrons with adequate materials, primarily scores, and their barely Blockchain technology for
sustained collection budgets. By minting NFTs vendors can potentially academic libraries?
expand their service offerings to music - Financial
However, as more composers separate from publishers in favor of self-publishing, libraries, including the cost-effective - Preservation/Archival
academic music libraries face additional challenges, namely establishing acquisition of niche new music in high - Elimination of middle man and
individual composers as vendors in their acquisition processes and making said demand by performers. third-party authentication
acquisitions physically or electronically available to their patrons in a sustainable
fashion. This research indicates how blockchain technologies provide a keen Acquiring scores and recordings is a multi- - Answering data difficulties
opportunity for music collections in academic libraries to further their outreach, tiered process (Figure 1), and music libraries - Metadata
acquisitions and collection management services in viable ways that reconcile commonly utilize vendors as go-betweens, - Peer to peer sharing abilities
budgetary constraints, patron needs and current trends in music publishing. in order to efficiently and economically

Scan the QR code navigate the acquisitions process with

publishers or artists that self-publish (Fling,
How might libraries implement
Blockchain technology?
2004). - Research
below to access the - Staff Training
- Start Small, Go Slow, Grow
bibliography, toolkit - Testing, Testing, Testing

and more! Challenges and Barriers

- Cost
Blockchain - Development
- Maintenance
Blockchain is a decentralized transaction and data management technology - Security, Privacy, Legislation, &
that reflects what libraries have been built on for decades, which is Regulation
“transparency, security, and privacy” (Kim, Smith, 2019).

Blockchain features peer-to-peer networking abilities that can ultimately

eliminate the need for a third-party authority and give libraries the ultimate
open source technology (Smith, 2019).
(Figure 1)

NFTs Music vendors may consider minting NFTs

NFTs sit at the intersection of cryptocurrency, digital ownership, and to better navigate the market of emerging
preservation. Libraries are uniquely positioned to adapt, apply concepts, and composers choosing to circumvent
capitalize on the NFT up-swell because their platforms are designed to publishing their music via traditional music
distribute ideas, art, music, and community organization (LaFountain, 2021). publishing firms.