Cloud+Computing

= Cloud Computing and Libraries = toc

Cloud Computing Basics
The tech buzz term, "cloud computing" is relatively new to the public sector with service providers such as Google and Amazon offering "cloud" space to users. However, cloud computing has been used within the business sector for a number of years offered by firms such as SalesForce.com and IBM. Despite this cloud computing has yet to be clearly defined.

According to TechTarget.com (2007), "cloud service has three distinct characteristics that differentiate it from traditional hosting. It is sold on demand, typically by the minute or the hour; it is elastic -- a user can have as much or as little of a service as they want at any given time; and the service is fully managed by the provider (the consumer needs nothing but a personal computer and Internet access)".

media type="youtube" key="ae_DKNwK_ms" height="251" width="448" align="right"What does this mean? Basically, more money on the bottom line.


 * $ ** You only pay for what you use, so in times of low volume you aren't spending the same amount on overhead to house and maintain servers.


 * $$ ** You also don't need the advanced technical expertise required to manage all your IT needs because the cloud provider handles all of that for you.


 * $$$ **And because you don't need the physical space to store the traditional servers, staff, software, etc. you can free up space and get back to focusing on what it is you do.

Salesforce.com produced the video to the right to help demystify the cloud.

OCLC in the Clouds
In 2009, OCLC integrated its FirstSearch reference service with the WorldCat.org database with the goal of creating a "web-scale cooperative library management space" (OCLC, 2009). OCLC's long-term goal was to further integrate its services into a larger web based service package integrating everything from OPAC's, acquisitions, cataloging, circulation and inter-library loan.

[[image:oclc-vader.jpg width="193" height="64" align="left" link="@http://lonewolflibrarian.wordpress.com/2009/06/10/oclc-and-cloud-computing-for-libraries-ramifications-06-10-09/"]] OCLC the Villain?
In Hadro's article about OCLC offering cloud services he refers to them as a "muscular non-profit", implying that they have a far extending reach and a lot of sway within the industry, uncharacteristic of most non-profits. This move has created a great deal of discussion as many traditional ILS (Integrated Library System) providers thought this was yet another attempt by OCLC to monopolize the library technology industry (Breeding, 2009; Hadro, 2009) and many librarians brought up questions of patron privacy and security. However, despite the concerns for the ILS, privacy, and security a number of libraries partnered with OCLC as pilot participants.

OCLC maintains that "the cooperative nature of this project leverages the powerful ethos of library resource sharing—opening up opportunities for cooperative intelligence by making sharable data available to all users—a "network effect" not available when library management systems are simply hosted by another organization." Or in simpler terms - if we can share, we can save money (OCLC, 2011).

Why it Matters to Libraries
Regardless of what people think of OCLC, cloud computing solutions take advantage of economies of scale, they are not negatively effected by the elasticity of user volume, and they cut down on the hardware, software and technical staff organizations need. The implications for libraries is more money for resources and more time for patrons.

**References**
Amazon. (2011). Amazon cloud drive: learn more. Retrieved from https://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/learnmore

Breeding, M. (2009, April 23). In challenge to ILS industry, OCLC extends WorldCat Local to launch new library system. //Library Journal//. Retrieved from http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6653619.html

Google. (2011). Google apps for business. Retrieved from http://www.google.com/apps/intl/en/business/index.html#utm_campaign=en&utm_source=en-ha-na-us-bk&utm_medium=ha&utm_term=%2Bgoogle%20%2Bcloud

Hadro, J. (2009, April 28). Tough questions emerge on OCLC's competitive advantage and data policies. //Library Journal//. Retrieved from http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6654121.html

IBM. (2011). IBM smarter computing: cloud and service delivery. Retrieved from http://www-03.ibm.com/systems/data/flash/smartercomputing/cloud.html?csr=agus_brspsmartcompv2-20110613&cm=k&cr=google&ct=USBRB301&S_TACT=USBRB301&ck=ibm_cloud&cmp=USBRB&mkwid=sztmfjzFB_13249003307_432hpc8503

OCLC. (2009, April 23). OCLC announces strategy to move library management services to Web scale. Retrieved from http://www.oclc.org/us/en/news/releases/200927.htm

OCLC. (2011). Web-scale management services.Retrieved from http://www.oclc.org/us/en/webscale/default.htm

Salesforce.com. (2009). What is cloud computing? [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae_DKNwK_ms

Salesforce.com. (2011). CRM, the cloud, and the social enterprise. Retrieved from https://www.salesforce.com/

TechTarget.com. (2007). What is cloud computing? Retrieved from http://searchcloudcomputing.techtarget.com/definition/cloud-computing