By: Livia Dremin

Cloud computing has grown in popularity over the years with many people using some form of “cloud” in their everyday lives, such as Google Drive or Apple’s iCloud.

“The term cloud computing describes the software applications or other resources that exist online and are available to multiple users via the Internet, rather than being installed on a particular user’s local computer. Users can access these applications from any computer with a high-speed Internet connection while having no other connection to the hardware that holds the source software.”

Library databases, which were once only accessible from school computers, can now be accessed from their home computer using their institutional log-in. Since some schools have adopted the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) method, using cloud services is logical because the students can conduct research from their homes. Cloud computing also holds many benefits for the libraries that use the service.

            It makes sense to use a cloud service in the library world because it is both cost effective and space saving. Servers would need to be erected in libraries to store all the information held from patron accounts, library records, ebooks, and databases.

“As budgets continue to tighten, libraries are increasingly considering moving more operations to cloud computing environments. In such a model, many libraries share a pool of computing resources that are accessible over the network. Because the cost is shared widely, the cost per institution can be lower.” (Anthony S. Chow)

Many schools have server rooms dedicated to storing their sensitive information, but space may be limited. Allowing libraries to use clouds to share the load of their not-so-sensitive information is a modern marvel. Students will gain access to their school files and databases from anywhere they have an internet connection, and that kind of progress should be embraced.

Works Cited:

Behrend, Tara S., et al. “Cloud Computing Adoption and Usage in Community Colleges.” Behaviour & Information Technology, vol. 30, no. 2, Taylor & Francis, 2011, pp. 231–40, https://doi.org/10.1080/0144929X.2010.489118.

Chow, Anthony S., and Timothy. Bucknall. Library Technology and User Services : Planning, Integration, and Usability Engineering. Chandos Publishing, 2012.

The Scientific World. 8 March 2021. Accessed 24 May 2022. https://www.scientificworldinfo.com/2021/03/application-of-cloud-computing-in-libraries.html