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Blacklight

Blacklight
United States of America
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About

Launched: 2006
Record Updated: Jan 06, 2026
Discovery system
Integrated Library System (ILS) or Library Services Platform (LSP)
Blacklight is an open source Ruby on Rails "engine" that provides a basic discovery interface for searching an Apache Solr index, including fielded searching, applying and removing facet constraints, sorting and paginating through search results, and more. As an engine, Blacklight components are customizable via Rails (templating) mechanisms to meet the search and discovery needs of heterogeneous data, allowing different information displays for different types of objects.

Mission

An open source system for indexing and making searchable any collection of documents.

Key Achievements

This was the system used by the Panama Papers for their groundbreaking journalism project that required the analysis of a huge trove of leaked documents. Blacklight is the discovery system used by many cultural heritage institutions to search library catalogs, digital archives, scientific data sets, and any collection of content whose metadata can be wrangled.

Technical Attributes

Maintenance Status

Actively Maintained

Open Code Repository

Implemented
Website (Opens in new window)

Technical Documentation

Implemented
Website (Opens in new window)

Code License

Implemented
Website (Opens in new window)

Technical Attribute Statements

Programming Languages

  • java
  • ruby

Technology Readiness Level

  • Actual system proven in operational environment

Code Licenses Used

  • Apache License, Version 2.0

Content Licensing

  • Creative commons licenses

Standards

Metadata

  • IIIF
  • Linked Data Design Principles
  • MARC XML

Persistent Identifier

  • OpenURL

Hosting Options

  • Through solution only

Integrations

  • Hyku

Community Engagement

Code of Conduct

In Progress

Community Engagement

Implemented
Website (Opens in new window)

Community Statements

User Contribution Pathways

  • Contribute funds
  • Contribute to code
  • Contribute to documentation
  • Contribute to education or training
  • Contribute to governance
  • Contribute to user research or user testing
  • Contribute to working groups or interest groups

Community Engagement Activities

  • Blogs
  • Community calls
  • Conference participation
  • Development sprints
  • Mailing lists and discussion forums (including Slack)
  • Social media
  • User research
  • Volunteer or ambassador network
  • Webinars and training

Policies & Governance

Governance Summary

Blacklight is a collaborative, open source project produced by developers from many diverse organizations. The project does not have a formal governance structure. Development is largely motivated by the needs of each developer’s organization.

Policies

Bylaws

In Progress

Commitment to Equity & Inclusion

In Progress

Privacy Policy

In Progress

Web Accessibility Statement

In Progress

Governance Records

In Progress

Governance Structure & Processes

In Progress

Policy Statements

Board Structure

  • None

Community Governance

  • Ad hoc

Additional Information

Organizational History

Started as an academic project at UVA, based on the work of Jerry McGann and Bethany Nowviskie's Center for Patacriticism, Blacklight became an open source generalized discovery platform with a loose governance structure.

Organizational Structure

Business or Ownership Model

Fiscal sponsorship (academic institution)

Full-time Staff

6-10

Current Affiliations

See website

Funding

Primary Funding Source

  • Contributions
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