Blockchain Solutions for Academic Libraries: A Framework for Trustworthy License Authentication and Secure Digital Resource Lending
Author(s): Virendra Kumar, Prof. Shilpi Verma & Dr. Jitendra Kumar
Abstract - An increased number of dependencies on digital resources has fundamentally changed how academic libraries acquire, provide access to, and maintain information. The contemporary library depends not on physical materials in its possession but rather on subscription and license services issued to it by commercial vendors. Such licensing systems usually restrict downloading, printing, and interlibrary lending, thereby entrapping libraries in proprietary systems managed by Digital Rights Management (DRM). This dependency increases the lack of transparency and limits access to knowledge fairly. Blockchain is a decentralized and immutable registry that provides a new mechanism for addressing these challenges. Blockchain technology can rebuild trust and autonomy in digital lending environments by helping ensure the security of license authentication, automating lending processes via smart contracts, and tracking verifiable usage history. The paper explores the possibility of blockchain-based systems in academic libraries, specifically higher education consortia in India, such as INFLIBNET and DELNET, or on international projects such as MIT Digital Credentials Initiative and European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI). Our idea is a blockchain-based model that will increase the transparency, interoperability, and accountability of digital resource management. The research paper ends with a policy recommendation that is aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and it provides the creation of librarian competencies that will be needed in the sustainable implementation of the policy.
Keywords - Blockchain; Academic Libraries; Digital Lending; Smart Contracts; Digital Rights Management (DRM); Licensing; National Education Policy (NEP) 2020; Information Governance.
DOI URL: https://doi.org/10.26761/ijrls.11.4.2025.2019
Cite This Article As:, Kumar, V., Verma, S. & Kumar,J. (2025) Blockchain Solutions for Academic Libraries: A Framework for Trustworthy License Authentication and Secure Digital Resource Lending. International Journal of Research in Library Science (IJRLS), 11(4) 477-490. www.ijrls.in
Copyright © 2025 Author(s) retains the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0.
Paper ID: IJRLS-2019 Page: 477- 490 Publication Date: 30 December 2025