Black Squirrel GNU/Linux: The Worlds first operating system designed for libraries, museums, and archives

Abstract

This poster discusses the research and development of Black Squirrel GNU/Linux. The operating system and its core applications were developed to support librarians and information professionals who need cutting-edge tools to aid in support of their responsibilities in their respective institutions. The 21st-century library has evolved to include makerspaces, hackerspaces, and gamerspaces. The 21st-century museum along with libraries and national archives are responsible for digital curation and preservation of born-digital and digitized content. The communities that these institutions serve rely on them to provide access to information, and cutting-edge technology. Budget cuts and lack of funding affect these institutions all over the world. Hardware and proprietary software costs have limited the advancements in the technology infrastructure in some of these institutions. Black Squirrel GNU/Linux is a Debian derivative that provides (free) open source software needed for data preservation, records management, and data curation. It can run on old computers and low-cost computers like the Raspberry Pi. Some of the applications that are discussed are transcription, software for computer homeostasis, a digital repository, subject librarian consultation tool, and records management tool. Black squirrel’s approach to privacy and security are also discussed.