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Libraries & Cloud Technology ---- by Patty Hiebert

 

Library professionals face the challenges and embrace the opportunities of cloud technologies as they embark upon a new frontier of library services. Many libraries have been successful in moving to a cloud-based platform for daily operations that include managing records, acquisitions, collections, archives, and other information access services as well as all associated services that extend to patrons. There’s no question that the cloud has resulted in our libraries’ collective ability to collaborate and consolidate resources among networked libraries and use web access points in order to maintain a competitive edge in this day of easy electronic information access. But what new challenges do we faced when we operate in the cloud? How do we stay abreast on the best practices in this fast-pasted changing E-age of cloud computing? In what ways can we best serve our library patrons?

Cloud computing is in its infancy. Many library patrons are familiar with online information access, but they also may need support with collaborative resources like Dropbox and Google Drive or Google Docs. As library professionals cloud computing has extended our responsibilities, and we need to be prepared to address issues regarding security, information literacy, equity, costs, and services. These challenges are evolving in scope and in how we serve our patrons.

When we refer to “the cloud” we no longer see a physical mainframe stored somewhere in a cool basement or backroom – we often imagine an actual “cloud” – a virtual space that is  infinite in its capacity to store data and provide user access --- it's like heaven to the world of computers. While that image isn’t necessarily an accurate reflection of “the cloud,” we can be sure that with such a large shared space security issues are a concern. 

Graphic: Cloud Computing Diagram

From the LSS vantage, security means protecting user-data, intellectual property, and privacy. These concerns extend beyond the scope of this blog post, but there are some fairly recent resources that can get us pointed in the right direction: ALA News: “Trusting Records in the Cloud” (11/20/2019) “presents up-to-date research and offers concrete guidelines for records professionals concerned with challenges to records in the online environment including privacy, accessibility, portability, metadata, and ownership.”

From an information literacy perspective, another issue that librarians must tackle with regard to cloud computing and easy information access is teaching the public how to assess the credibility of the information they are accessing as well as the intention of specific genres (e.g. comedy news). The publication “Keeping up with . . . Misinformation” is a good librarian and LSS resource that addresses the scope of information literacy and the issues we face in educating the public about the types of information they access.

Another conversation to consider is equity and online computing environments. Libraries are committed to promoting equity on a variety of levels. Equity with information access can be supported by way of library online and cloud computing environments that provide easier access to sources and a more robust selection of resources. How? Consider this past year with closures because of COVID-19 pandemic. Libraries worked alongside other institutions to ensure equity among those who did not have computers or computer access. For example, libraries were encouraged to stay “powered-up” even when closed so that patrons could access resources remotely, and they also loaned computing devices. While these types of “work-arounds” are admirable, more needs to be done. In addition, we must consider the challenges of rural libraries that are challenged with access to broad-band internet. See StateTech Magazine for more articles on the challenges we face in providing and managing the  “Digital Divide” and “Hybrid Cloud Technology.”

To close, cloud technology has opened up a new frontier for libraries: how they operate, their patron services, and their challenges. As you read this post, consider other posts about makerspaces, BYOD, and the essential role libraries have in supporting society’s knowledge acquisition and information literacy.

 

Works Cited

Achbarou, Omar, My Ahmed El kiram, Salim El Bouanani. “Securing Cloud Computing from Different Attacks Using Intrusion Detection Systems.” International Journal of Interactive Multimedia and Artificial Intelligence, Vol. 4, No 3. Online 2016. www.ijimai.org/journal/sites/default/files/files/2016/08/ijimai20174_3_9_pdf_60303.pdf. Accessed 30 Apr. 2021.

Delaney, Melissa. “How Rural and Suburban Libraries Bridge the Digital Divide.” StateTech. 2014 Sep. 25. www.statetechmagazine.com/article/2014/09/how-rural-and-suburban-libraries-bridge-digital-divide. Accessed 30 Apr. 2021.

Ghaffari, Kimia, and Mohammad Lagzian. “Exploring Users’ Experiences of Using Personal Cloud Storage Services: A Phenomenological Study.” Behaviour & Information Technology, vol. 37, no. 3, Mar. 2018, pp. 295–309. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1080/0144929X.2018.1435722. Accessed 30 Apr. 2021.

Goldstein, Phil. “The Challenges State and Local IT Face with Hybrid Cloud.” StateTech. 2021 May 4. www.statetechmagazine.com/article/2021/05/challenges-state-and-local-it-face-hybrid-cloud . Accessed 5 May 2021.

Johnson, Linda E. “How Urban Libraries Can Bridge the Digital Divide.” Bloomberg CityLab. 2021 Mar 4. www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-03-04/how-the-city-library-can-fix-the-digital-divide. Accessed 30 Apr. 2021.

“Keeping Up With . . .  Misinformation and News Literacy.” American Library Association. 2021 Apr. 3. www.ala.org/acrl/publications/keeping_up_with/misinformaiton. Accessed 30 Apr. 2021.

Tritt, and Kendrick. Impact of Cloud Computing on Librarians at Small and Rural Academic Libraries. University of South Carolina Scholar Commons. Faculty Publications. Gregg-Graniteville Library. Fall 2014. www.scholarcommons.sc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1006&context=aiken_gregg_graniteville_library_facpub. Accessed 30 Apr. 2021.

“Trusting Records in the Cloud.” American Library Association. 2019 Nov 20. www.ala.org/news/member-news/2019/11/trusting-records-cloud. DID: 614edfdb-de77-4592-9a3b-7e6ce756b603. Accessed 30 Apr. 2021.

 

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