Assessing the Relevance of Implementing Blockchain Technology to Modernize Services in Academic Libraries

Abstract With the constant increase in new publications, data, and documents, people’s demand for new knowledge and information continues to grow. Blockchain is widely used by public and open-source software and tools to ensure that the technology reaches its full potential and that progress is made towards its long-term goals. Based on a literature review on blockchain technology (BCT) in libraries, its benefits could be implemented in different areas of libraries to modernize services. The extensive literature review could, in turn, help authors in developing instruments based on five measures – optimism, innovativeness, attitude, discomfort, and insecurity – with an underlying 15 items. The authors collected data from various universities in 31 provinces of China and analyzed them using structural equation modeling (SEM) to develop a new research model. The research findings revealed that optimism has a statistically significant impact on library patrons’ attitudes and innovativeness using BCT. It further concludes that insecurity related to the use of BCT negatively impacts users’ attitudes towards the use of the technology. Furthermore, the results revealed that a positive user attitude stimulates knowledge sharing and generates new ideas that lead to innovation in academia.