Cloud Computing in Libraries

The Benefits of Cloud Computing for Libraries

 

Cloud computing may sound like some techno-buzzword, but what it offers is of great interest to the library community. Cloud computing refers to computer hardware and/or software services that are provided by an outside company which requires only an internet connection to access (Jayakanth). In a world of constantly changing technology, it is often hard for businesses and institutions like libraries to keep up with the demand for better server infrastructure. If library services like OPACs and ILSs can be outsourced to a company (Jayakanth), the pressure is taken off the library to account and budget for future technology obsolescence (Breeding). Libraries utilizing cloud computing also don’t need to worry about having as much IT staff/support to maintain locally operated servers/devices (Jayakanth).

 

Cloud computing opens the door to possibilities that were either impossible or impractical to implement on the local level. Services like eBook and eAudiobook collections are immensely possible in the world of libraries and are a form of cloud computing (Scardilli). Check any local library and you’ll most likely see online learning resources like Coursera, Great Courses, or Skillshare. Cloud computing is a boon to libraries and the communities they serve as it increases accessibility to electronic services and resources.

 

Works Cited:

Jayakanth, Ananda T. Byrappa, and Filbert Minj. “Migration of a Research Library's ICT-Based Services to a Cloud Platform.” Information Technology and Libraries, 41.4, Mar. 2022:1-2. Academic Search Complete, Web. 29 Apr. 2022.

Breeding, Marshall. “Preparing for the Future: Implementing Enduring Technology Strategies.” Computers in Libraries, 41.8, Sept. 2021:10. Academic Search Complete, Web. 29 Apr. 2022.

Scardilli, Brandi. “What’s New With Public Library Ebook Vendors.” Information Today, 39.2, Mar. 2022: 23. Academic Search Complete, Web. 29 Apr. 2022.

 

The Demise of the School Library

by Marion Peña

    I know what you must be thinking after reading my title to this blog post "The Demise of the School Library." What do I mean by that? Are school libraries doomed? Well, in this blog post I will be discussing how there are many schools across the country that have been cutting their library services for years and how the loss of school libraries and qualified Librarians threaten their existence and a student's right to receive information. In my opinion this is a big mistake and I will explain why.

    I have always believed, like hopefully many of you, that Librarians and libraries provide vital support to students and teachers in our public schools. But for years school districts have let go of qualified Librarians and they have closed school libraries. Some believe that these library closures are due to the growing budget cuts libraries face these days and that going "digital" is better and that schools must "evolve". There is, however, no proof and very little research to support this claim. Some reports actually claim that students who have less "screen time" do better in school.

    Instead we need to focus on what the ramifications are for our students should school libraries continue to close. Students who do not have a school library don't have the necessary skills they need when they move on to college to be able to distinguish the good resources and information. Not having a school library especially affects the younger students who are in their formative years of learning to read. By closing school libraries these young students will not learn to value books and reading. Just the pure fact of being exposed to a space with books promotes learning and an opportunity to increase reading habits.

    Let's not also forget that school libraries often play an important role, not only in the learning and reading process, but libraries also provide a safe space for students who need that quiet time in the day. A place to retreat to with a book during their lunch or recess. Librarians are often on the front lines for children who need this extra support or safe space during their day. Librarians are at times that trusted adult and they have the opportunity to then encourage the lifelong love of learning. So, by closing school libraries you are not only taking away the opportunity for a student to grow in their reading skills and learning skills, you are also possibly taking away that one place that the student enjoys visiting on a daily basis when they need some time to themselves.

    As you can see,  closing our school libraries is a high price to pay for most students and has a bigger impact than most realize. Let's support our school librarians and help school districts who are considering closing these libraries understand the extreme disservice they impose on it's students. School libraries are the "heart" of every school. And nothing functions without a "heart."

Watch these videos that further emphasize my points in this blog post. I hope you enjoy!

Source cited:

"How students are hurt by replacing school librarians and libraries with computers" by Nancy Baily, April 8, 2017

    

 

The Makerspace Revolution

by Marion Peña

    More and more schools are implementing and dedicating in-school Makerspaces in the center of each school's media center or as a separate class entirely. In this blogpost I will be discussing the exciting opportunities Makerspace provides for students to learn, create, collaborate, invent and discover new ideas or build on existing ones.

   

    "Makerspaces are part of what is called the "Maker Movement", which started in the early 2000's. The "Maker Movement" emphasized hands-on discovery in a world that had increasingly become automated." The Maker Education movement has sparked a minor revolution in K-12 education.

    A successful Makerspace program provides kids with a variety of tools and materials along with the freedom to create. The space has to be flexible allowing students to be supported in activities such as computer coding and robotics, 3D printing, electronics and circuits and building and construction.

    The idea of Makerspaces has caught on the last few years and now even public libraries have began to create them. Kids love it and it is a great way to discover how far your students' thinking and imagination can go.

    I personally was introduced to the Makerspace Revolution after I watched a video called "Caine's Arcade" in a Makerspace class where I work.  The film "Caine's Arcade is about nine year old Caine Monroy who made a super detailed cardboard arcade in his dad's East Los Angeles used auto part store. His first customer happened to be filmmaker Nirvan Mullick who was inspired by Caine's inventiveness and decided to get Caine a flashmob of customers one Sunday. This film is about that day. Not only will this film touch your heart but it also inspired many kids through their Makerspace programs in school to create and engineer with cardboard. Please watch the video of Caine's Arcade below to see for yourself and let me know what you think. Perhaps you can implement this activity into your Makerspace lesson.

Here is a video and example of how many schools have started celebrating an annual "cardboard challenge" based off of Caine's Arcade. Kids love it and work on their "invention" during their Makerspace classes in school.

I hope you enjoyed learning more about the endless possibilities Makerspace can provide and I hope when you have an opportunity to visit a Makerspace sometime, you will take the opportunity to do so.

Sources cited:

"What makes a great makerspace?" by Waters, John K. ,T H E Journal Sept 2016, Vol 43, Issue 5

"Elementary Makerspace" by District Information July 2018, Vol 54, Issue 7 (Makerspaces in Elementary Schools)

 

"BYOD" - Bring Your Own Device to school

By Marion Peña

    What does it mean to "Bring Your own Device" to school and is this something that can benefit our students or can it also sometimes hamper the learning process? In today's blog post I am going to discuss and explore this issue as it is something that many schools have been adopting, especially since schools switched to distance learning during the Covid-19 Pandemic. Is BYOD really such a great idea? Let's delve into this a little bit further.

    BYOD or Bringing Your Own Device to school gives students the option to borrow electronic devices from the school district or bring their own devices in order to access learning resources while at school. The BYOD program is typically banned for younger students and introduced to students ranging anywhere between 8th and 10th grade.  It is believed that allowing students to use technology they are familiar with encourages participation in the classroom. Though I find this to probably hold some merit, I also find that there are some drawbacks to allowing students to bring their own devices instead of utilizing only the devices that the school district can provide the students.

    One of the concerns of this program, and in particular when the district provides a device to its students, is the expense of purchasing these devices  which, as you can imagine, becomes very expensive.  The other factor to consider when providing the devices to the students is the amount of damaged devices that will need to be replaced or repaired throughout the school year.  Many devices come back with damaged screens, broken keyboards and are even completely destroyed due to improper care. These costs can be eliminated when students are allowed to bring their own devices. The district would not be required to purchase as many tablets or laptops. These savings can then be directed towards other technological advancements, such as the acquisition of interactive whiteboards.

    "The advantages of BYOD are certainly worth noting, but opponents claim that these benefits do not outweigh the negatives of this system. The main concern among teachers is that the presence of electronic devices in the classroom will promote distraction on the part of the students. Although certain sites and applications may be blocked, tech-savvy students are likely to find ways around these restrictions." In addition to this there could be issues that arise that concern privacy laws when students are photographing or even at times recording others without their prior permission.  Probably the most significant disadvantage, in my opinion, about the BYOD program is that it will increase the already significant divide between students from high- and lower-income families. While most schools would allow a student to "check-out" a device from the school, it now creates the problem that it is easy to now distinguish the students who bring their own devices and those that are sometimes forced to borrow theirs.  All of the disadvantages mentioned could result in bullying and cyber bullying and not really being focused on the classroom lesson. Teachers would not be able to properly monitor if the student is really on-task or visiting a site that is not appropriate or pertains to the lesson at hand.

In conclusion, the BYOD program sounds ideal in some ways as far as being able to save costs for a school district, but in more ways than one it really shows to possibly have a more negative impact on student learning and productivity. What is your opinion on the BYOD program? Watch the video provided below so you can listen to what others are saying about this issue.

Work Cited:

"Gadgets to school: the benefits and risks of BYOD" by Patricia Bruder from NJEA Review

"Resilient Educator" by the Editorial Team, Tips for Teachers and Classroom Resources, Updated May 2020

    

 

Cloud Computing in the Library

by Marion Peña

    Today I wanted to talk a little bit about "Cloud Computing" and how cloud computing is becoming something that most libraries throughout the world are adopting and utilizing. But before we get into all of that, let's talk about what "cloud computing" actually is.

"Cloud computing is a web-based technology, which is a new form of computing. It is a service provided on the internet or network." People can use the internet to access technology-enabled services. For example, when you are logging into Facebook or searching for your next travel plans on Expedia, you are taking advantage of cloud computing.

    How is cloud computing being used in our libraries? Well, some of you, like myself, might remember the days of spending hours in your local library manually searching for books in the library catalog, researching library resources you could use for your papers for school. You had to actually physically be present in order to do these tasks. Well, these days that is not necessary anymore. Libraries offer you opportunities to access these services and many more online, right from the comfort of your own home. 

    The best example of cloud computing technology used in most modern and digital libraries is the Online Public Access Catalogue, also called OPAC. "OPAC provides the complete bibliographic details of the collection of a library to its users. A user can retrieve the documents from the OPAC by searching the name of author, title, call number, or ISBN etc." Cloud computing technologies are utilized in libraries to create a digital library and automate processes using 3rd party services. Cloud computing provides librarians with a way to share distributed resources and services that belong to different organizations or sites.

    

    In conclusion, by providing and establishing a public cloud among many digital libraries, it can conserve library resources and at the same time improve their user satisfaction. 

    We are so lucky to be able to enjoy the many databases our libraries provide it's patrons. Every resource is now available to us on-demand, 24 hours a day. You can literally access resources from all over the world with just the click of a button. How amazing is that? Watch the video below to learn more about the benefits of cloud computing.

Works cited: 

"Computers in Libraries, implementing a new cloud computing library management service" Jan/Feb 2012, Vol 32, Issue 1

"International Journal of Digital Library Services, Cloud Computing in Libraries, An Overview,  Vol 6 Jan - Mar 2016, issue 1 - www.ijodls.com// Geetanjali Reserch Publication" by Suman and Parminder Singh