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VSRD-TNTJ, Vol. 3 (3), 2012, 124-130

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1Librarian, Department of Marwadi Education Foundations’ Group of Institutions, Rajkot, Gujarat, INDIA.2Principal, Department of Library & Information Science, SMIT, Berhampur, Orissa, INDIA.*Correspondence : [email protected]

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Cloud Computing : Academic Library in Orissa1Suresh Chandra Padhy* and

2RK Mahapatra

ABSTRACT

Information and communication technologies (ICT) have become commonplace entities in all aspects of life.

Across the past twenty years the use of ICT has fundamentally changed the practices and procedures of nearly

all forms of endeavour within business and governance. Within education, ICT has begun to have a presence but

the value of ICT is not affordable. The basic principle of cloud computing entails the reduction of in-house data

centres and the delegation of a portion or all of the Information Technology infrastructure capability to a third

party. Universities and Colleges are the core of innovation through their advanced research and development.

Subsequently, Higher Institutions may benefit greatly by harnessing the power of cloud computing, including

cost cutting as well as all the above types of cloud services. In this paper we discuss problems faced with digital

library and development efforts to overcome that problem. Then it proposed to improve current user service

model with Cloud Computing. This paper explores the application of cloud computing in academic library in

Orissa.

Keywords : ICT, Cloud Computing, Types of Cloud, Impact in Academic Library & Improvement Of User

Services.

1. INTRODUCTION

Cloud computing is a recent concept that is still evolving across the information technology industry and

academia. Several definitions have evolved so far, the National Institute of Standards and Technology [4],

defines cloud computing as “a model for enabling convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of

configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be

rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction[5]. Three

typical kinds of cloud computing services are: Processing Clouds that provide scalable and mostly affordable

computing resources that run enterprise programs, which is also sometimes known as Infrastructure as a service

(IaaS), Storage Clouds that offer an alternative to local file systems also known as a Platform as a Service

(PaaS), and Application Clouds also called Software as a Service (SaaS), that allow a thin client to interact with



Suresh Chandra Padhy et al / VSRD Technical & Non-Technical Journal Vol. 3 (3), 2012

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services that are completely hosted on an external infrastructure.

2. WHAT IS CLOUD COMPUTING ?

Cloud computing can be understood as a way to use off-site computer processing power to replace content

creation and servers that were traditionally hosted onsite. In layman’s terms this means “using Web services for

our computing needs” (Kroski, 2009). Cloud computer allows content creation to be made “when data and

software applications reside on and are drawn from the network rather than locally on any one workstation”. By

utilizing online applications, users can create and save their files online, share content (often for free!), work

collaboratively with others or create entire services that can all be accessed online without need of having the

programs on their own computer.

These online services can reduce the need for expensive software, hardware, and even advanced technical

knowledge from library staff since cloud computing services are often streamlined to be very user-friendly. As

well, “the focus shifts away from which devices effectively store data and able to run applications to which

devices can provide the easiest access to data and applications – which are stored at various places on the

Internet”.

Fig. : Cloud Service Management Implementation Framework

3. HOW THE TREND WILL IMPACT LIBRARIES ?

Beyond the basic components like hosted email services that have a strong consumer base, cloud computing can

be utilized to address needs which are specific to libraries? This can be broken down into the three types of

cloud services, replacing a library’s onsite technology environment with an online version, and then situations

where a library can create its own cloud infrastructure. These areas offer “benefits to information professionals:

outsourced infrastructure, greater flexibility, reduced barriers to innovation, and lower start up investments”.

The three main types of cloud services are Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) (Kroski, 2009). First, cloud computing offers the ability of libraries to use

online software to handle a task like video chat through either Gmail video chat or through Skype. Both of these

are free services though there is “little customization or control available with these applications” (Kroski,

2009). In other words, services you offer through a SaaS’ interface will look like that of your competitors which

will not distinguish you from them. On the other hand, since the services and application interfaces are often

familiar with users, there would be a decrease in the learning curve for library staff and users.

Second, libraries can create applications in an online environment. These environments allow a library to “build,




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test, and deploy Web-based applications” (Kroski, 2009). PaaS gives the library the freedom to explore

development options without having to purchase and maintain the required infrastructure. This way, if a

particular program turns out to not be popular or a best fit for a library, they are not stuck with unwanted

hardware and software which they could not recoup the costs from.

Third, a library no longer has to purchase their own servers to host their content. By using IaaS, a library can

purchase server space and computing power. One of the major players in this arena is Amazon which offers the

“Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2), which provides computing resources and Simple Storage Services (S3) for data

storage” (Kroski, 2009). A library does not need to purchase a server which is underutilized but costs the same

to purchase and maintain as if it were using all of its resources at all times. By using an IaaS, a library gains the

benefit of only paying for the “resources you actually use”.

Therefore the main benefit for moving to a cloud computing environment for a library is the ability to both try

out new software without having to buy the hardware as well as being able to scale the computing power to

meet the demand of users. A library’s IT department can be more flexible in raising the amount of cloud

computing they require by contacting their vendor instead of physically having to acquire new hardware to meet

increased demands. This method will save the library money and staff resources.

4. TYPES OF CLOUD

There are three major types of cloud services available:

4.1. Software as a Service (SaaS)

Applications or software is delivered as a service to the customer who can access the program from any online

device. Some of these Web-based applications are free such as Hotmail, Google Apps, Skype, and many 2.0

applications, while most business-oriented SaaS, such as SalesForce, is leased on a subscription basis. There is

usually little customization or control available with these applications. However, subscribers benefit from low

initial costs, have access to (usually 24/7) support services, and needn’t worry about hosting, installing,

upgrading, or maintaining the software.

4.2. Platform as a Service (PaaS)

With PaaS, a computing platform is provided which supplies tools and a development environment to help

companies build, test, and deploy Web-based applications. Businesses don't need to invest in the infrastructure

required for building Web and mobile applications but can rent the use of platforms such as Windows Azure,

Google AppEngine, and Force.com. Applications which are built using these provider’s services, however, are

usually locked into that one platform.

4.3. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

This type of cloud computing is also sometimes referred to as HaaS or Hardware as a Service and it involves

both storage services and computing power. Amazon’s Web Services, one of the major players in this area,

offers two main products including the Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2), which provides computing resources, and




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Simple Storage Service (S3) for data storage.

Companies are using Amazon's Web Services to host or backup their websites, for content delivery, to run high

performance computing simulations, to host media collections, and much more. Most of these cloud services are

available on a pay-per-usage basis, differing from the SaaS subscription model, enabling customers to scale up

or down depending on their need at any given time and only pay for what they’ve used.

5. THE CLOUD IN THE ACADEMIC LIBRARY

While libraries can use cloud computing applications to create personalized portals for users, the Department of

Library and Information Studies (LIS) at the University could use cloud computing as their back up

methodology. This solution was proposed when confronted with the department to another building on campus.

The current proposal for back up within the LIS department is to have an external hard drive that is passed

around to faculty members to back their data up on. However, this is a tedious process that also endangers thedata due to the physical shuffling of the hard drive from place to place. The files that are to be backed up often

exist on only the computers of faculty and staff or on flash drives. There is no centralized location of the files.

The method proposing is for the department is to create their own cloud server. This can be accomplished by the

purchase of a Pogoplug device that connects to the network. Pogoplug is an internet enable product that will

allow the LIS department to connect their own external hard drives to it and then anyone with the access

permissions will be able to access the data stored on the hard drives. In summary, it is a simple cloud server.

With Pogoplug, faculty and staff will be able to access the cloud hard drives through a web portal. Or they can

also make their folder on Pogoplug appear as a folder on their desktop connected computer. In order to make

this a backup solution, faculty should have a copy of the files also on their desktop computer. It will need to be

investigated if a free synchronization application like ToySync from Microsoft would be capable of

automatically keeping folders synchronized without the need to do it manually. This solution has been proposed

to the chair of the LIS Tech Committee. The next likely step if the proposal goes through will be securing a

Pogoplug and testing it on the network before full-scale implementation by all parties.

Libraries will want to consider what types of information or processes they want to trust to the cloud. The

responsibility of libraries to preserve information at the Top Tech Trends panel, making the point that

outsourcing its preservation in effect relinquishes that obligation.

Libraries will need to consider not only this type of ethical quandary, but also practical ones such as the privacy

of sensitive information such as patron records, and concerns about records retention requirements. But it

needn’t be an all-or-nothing decision as libraries may choose to continue to host some of their own systems

while using the cloud for less sensitive processes such as hosting library websites, backing up media collections,

or storing and accessing bibliographic data.

Libraries have already begun to adopt cloud services to alleviate their IT departments and increase efficiency.

In addition to these libraries, the Library of Congress has entered into a partnership with Duracloud for a one-




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year pilot program testing out cloud storage capabilities (see last month’s interview with LC staffers for more),

and OCLC has announced a new Web-scale, cooperative library management service.

6. IMPROVEMENT OF USER SERVICE MODEL IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES

With the rapid development of various IT technologies, users' information requirements are increasingly

personalized. And now more and more libraries advocated user-centred services. So librarians should mine and

study users' information requirements frequently. And only in this way, they can master the basic demands of

their users. And furthermore, library can develop itself according to such information and improve users'

satisfaction. University library, as we all know, is famous for its academic and teaching influences. And IT

technology has been the driving force of library development. What's more, librarians can keep using new

technology to develop library and optimize library service. With the expansion of Cloud Computing application,

this paper proposed to apply Cloud Computing in libraries. By establishing a pubic cloud among many

university libraries, it not only can conserve library resources but also can improve its user satisfaction.

Fig. : Application of Cloud Computing in Academic Library

6.1. Unified Search Service Model

Although there are OPAC (Online Public Access Catalogue) and ILL (Inter-library loan) services already,

library users still cannot access to the shared resources through an uniform access platform. However, with the

adoption of Cloud Computing in university library, the integrated library resources support distributed uniform

access interface. At the same time, the uniform access platform can promote library resources, guide and answer

users' questions by using high-quality navigation. As a result, users can grip more information retrieval methods

and make better use of library resources




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6.2. Integrated Consulting Services Model

Today almost every university library can provide its users with network reference by BBS or Email. But with

the constant improvement of users' demanding, integrated digital reference service came into being. And driven

by Cloud Computing, CDRS (Cooperative digital reference service) can realize the sharing of technology,

resources, experts and services of university libraries. Furthermore, it will develop QI A smart joint service

system, and this will bring great conveniences for library users.

6.3. Real-time Access Services Model

In the era of digital libraries, library users paid more attention to electronic journals, electronic databases and so

on. This is really a big challenge for university libraries. But by introducing Cloud Computing, university

libraries can establish a shared public cloud jointly [81. As shared cloud can have infinite storage capacity and

computing power theoretically. It can bring obvious benefits to libraries. On one hand, allied libraries no longer

consider the hardware cost; on the other hand, it can help reduce the purchase of electronic database resources

repeatedly among allied libraries. Meanwhile, users can visit the shared resources by any terminal equipment,

such as PC, 30 mobile phone or PDA only if you can access to the Internet.

6.4. Knowledge Service Model

In the context of the knowledge economy, knowledge resource has become the main resource affecting

productivity development. And university libraries are the main departments of storing, processing and

spreading knowledge. So how to provide users with efficient transmission of information and knowledge

services became urgent task for librarians today T91. However, the Emergence of Cloud Computing acceleratedlibrary's development. And the establishment of shared public cloud can save manpower and material resources

greatly among university libraries. Therefore, with the aid of Cloud Computing, librarians won't have to

maintain their own equipments or deal with consultations personally. And librarians will have more time and

energy to offer users with their needed knowledge-based services but not only information.

6.5. All-oriented Service Model

Comparing with foreign university libraries, we can find that foreign libraries are intended to provide services

for all the people. Besides the professors, teachers or students, all the people of that country can access to the

library resources. In addition, they also permit users access to many libraries' resources by handling related

certificate of that library. And fortunately, domestic libraries can also do this in the cloud environment.

Anybody who can through the legal network identity authentication has the right to visit the joint resources of

university libraries on the Internet. In other words, university libraries will offer services for all the people with

the help of Cloud Computing.

7. CONCLUSION

Cloud computing which is applied in digital libraries, analyzes current situation and existing problems of the

cloud computing in digital library .On this basis, on the combination of cloud computing, SaaS, web2.0, SOA

and other technologies, this paper proposes a CALIS-based cloud service strategy and the corresponding cloud




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library services platform (i.e. Nebula platform) model. The model is suitable for constructing large-scale

distributed network of public digital library services. All library resources and service distributed on the Internet

can be integrated as a whole, which forms a new type of adaptive control service system supporting interlibrary

collaboration and service access, as well sharing resources from different libraries.

But in practice, the cloud computing is facing the large number of technical problems and engineering problems.

Although the proposal of IPv6 has improved the shortcoming of IPv4 and remedy a lot of security leakage.

However, wireless networking around the city in anytime and anywhere will generate more information security

problem than before. Cloud computing is associated with a range of severe and complex privacy issues. The

main issues of cloud security are all related to data security which is the basic issue of cloud security. We need a

measure to prevent our data from being obtained or damaged by some people who harbour vicious intentions.

Therefore, it is necessary to encrypt data and make that the data obtained illegally cannot be deciphered.

Cloud computing technology is still relatively young in terms of maturity and adoption. The expectation is that

it will undergo several changes in the future, in terms of resources, issues, risks, and ultimately best practices

and standards. However, there are some sought of greet advantages it can potentially provide value for

institutions of higher education. On-demand services can reverberate positively with the current university tight

budgets across the nation and other parts of the world.

8. REFERENCES[1] Wikipedia. Cloud Computing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/cloud-computing

[2] Introduction to cloud computing architecture: white paper [Abstract][online].(June 2009).Available from:

http://webobjects.cdw.com/webobjects/media/pdf/Sun_CloudComputing.pdf[Accessed 8 June 2011].

[3] Jacobson, A. (2010, June 26). Cloud Computing for Library Services... Retrieved November 5, 2010, from

Libraralan: http://libraralan.blogspot.com/2010/06/cloud-computing-for-library-services.html

[4] Kroski, E. (2009, September 10). Library Cloud Atlas: A Guide to Cloud Computing and Storage | Stacking

the Tech. Retrieved November 5, 2010, from Library Journal.com:

http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6695772.html

[5] Mitchell, E. D. (2010, March 22). Using Cloud Services for Library IT Infrastructure. Retrieved November

5, 2010, from code4lib Journal: http://journal.code4lib.org/articles/2510

[6] Google App Engine. http://code.google.com/appengine.

[7] Li Yongxian, Luan Xulun, Li Sensen. Libraries Meeting Cloud computing Technology Era [1).Academic

Library and Information Tribune, 2009(3).

[8] Yang Mingfang, Yuan Xilin. Digital Libraries under the Cloud Computing Environment [J). Library

Development, 2009(9)

[9] Huang Fuyan. Research on the Development of Library Information Service Models in the Information

Culture Environment [OJ. Xiangtan University, 2008(7)

[10] Sultan, N. (2010). “Cloud Computing for Education: A New Dawn?,” International Journal of Information

Management, 30, 109–116.