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Cloud Computing in Libraries: A Global Outlook by Sara Zeller

Cloud Computing in Libraries: A Global Outlook

By Sara Zeller



    Every night I try and take a walk around the neighborhood or one of my kids sport tracks and listen to at least one episode of my favorite podcasts.  A few weeks ago the podcast Pantsuit Politics did an episode dedicated to Bitcoin.  In general I have a minimal understanding of the concept but as they went into detail regarding the auctioning of certain NFT’s or non-fungible tokens on sites like NBA Top Shot, I understood more clearly how delicate the cloud computing system is in regards to data storage.  In What Cloud Computing Means to You, the Wall Street Journal defines it as this, “The innovation is called "cloud computing" and, simply put, it is the technology behind web-based services that store your digital files--from videos and songs to books and personal photos--remotely and offer you access from multiple devices through a browser or downloadable app” (WSJ, 2021).  What does blockchain technology and Bitcoin have to do with the use of Google Docs in my child’s classroom or the benefits of a global network of library collections? I believe the spotlight of Bitcoin has drawn a spotlight not only to the questions of cybersecurity and data integrity, but also the conversations of energy usage. 


    The usage of Google Drive in the classroom as revolutionized so many aspects the learning environment,  “collaborative tools, and Google Docs in particular, have shifted the way students write, collaborate, and get feedback and editing from teachers. It's the first thing nearly all teachers interviewed for this story mentioned when asked about the use of educational technology in literature and writinginstruction” (Davis, 2021). However live technology can be challenging, “one of the biggest struggles for teachers these days is the unreliability of digital tools and infrastructure, Turner said. "Technology fails. If your entire lesson is about students peer-reviewing and writing in Google Docs and the Wi-Fi goes down, you're up a creek" (Davis, 2021) In the long run our children now have record of their work stored on a single site from elementary school and up, and while I don’t think my son will need to pull up his haiku on the color green from 2ndgrade to quote in a college essay the idea that it is ready at his fingertips is quite amazing.  Questions of data security surround our children’s information have been a topic of conversation since the mainstream implementation of hosts like Google Drive. Notes from, IOP Conference Series. Materials Science and Engineeringsay, “Data integrity and confidentiality are the major security concerns in a cloud computing environment.  Many data integrity models have been developed over the years to concentrate on the data integrity issues.  On the other hand, the blockchain technology is a well-known and considerable technique in tiers of security issues in the various fields” (Gangadevi, April 2021).

    Outside of the benefits of cloud computing and storage for onsite school librarians in regards to research and the use of technologies we see the benefits of cloud computing in the global library market. Even in example our own classroom assignments this year and specifically in regards to COVID restrictions thanks to cloud computing technology we have been able to access and learn from collections housed in libraries and museums across the U.S. In, Cloud Computing an Emerging Technology: Changing Ways of Libraries CollaborationKahn notes, “It can concurrently make workflows simpler and permit the libraries to make available improved end-user customer services with highly developed library find means and assist them online through a large network of collaboration librarians globally who can answer accurate queries and be available 24/7 all year round…other substantial benefits as well, like combing underutilized systems into a cloud computing environment , thus reducing carbon emission footprints and making libraries forerunners of greener and healthier enjoyable planet.” And there are those that say their are environmental costs linked to having so many items stored on a cloud system “the digital economy is accelerating faster than the actions being taken in the green economy movement to counter negative environmental impacts. To move forward fast, we must first start thinking differently” (Alorse 2019).   Working towards data security, maintenance of the web hosting sites, managing storage and the use of energy, on top of curating and developing ongoing collections will require the ever evolving knowledge and role of our local, national and school librarians. 

Works Cited:

"What Cloud Computing Means to You." Wall Street Journal (Online), Jan 06 2011, ProQuest. Web. 27 Apr. 2021.

 

Gangadevi, K., and R. R. Devi. "A Survey on Data Integrity Verification Schemes using Blockchain Technology in Cloud Computing Environment." IOP Conference Series. Materials Science and Engineering 1110.1 (2021)ProQuest. Web. 27 Apr. 2021.

Khan, Shazia, Saima Khan, and Surraya Galibeen. "Cloud Computing an Emerging Technology: Changing Ways of Libraries Collaboration." International Research: Journal of Library and Information Science 1.2 (2011)ProQuest. Web. 27 Apr. 2021.


Alorse, Raynold Wonder. "The digital economy's environmental footprint is threatening the planet." Gale Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2021. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/SIPASN591389198/OVIC?u=cclc_palomar&sid=OVIC&xid=fad5b136. Accessed 27 Apr. 2021. Originally published as "The digital economy's environmental footprint is threatening the planet," The Conversation, 8 Dec. 2019.


Davis, MichelleR. "Google Docs Fuels Shift to Collaborative Classroom Writing." Education Week, vol. 36, no. 35, 14 June 2017, p. 22. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A496922522/OVIC?u=cclc_palomar&sid=OVIC&xid=b748f648. Accessed 27 Apr. 2021.


Remis, Katie Kilfoyle. "Cloud confidence: more districts trust key data to online storage over on-site servers." District Administration, vol. 52, no. 2, 2016, p. 55+. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A442781127/OVIC?u=sddp_main&sid=OVIC&xid=e821e246. Accessed 29 Apr. 2021.

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