Cloud Computing in Libraries

LIBRARIES AND CLOUD COMPUTING 

By Rosemary Rico 

Cloud computing refers to a form of storing and accessing your information (data) over the Internet vs storing data on hardware servers. In the word of digital information, cloud computing is on the rise and will likely continue to rise. For libraries, cloud computing makes a lot of sense because it literally provides instant access to information when needed—something libraries specialize in. Digital materials like e-books are available and accessible because of cloud computing systems. Cloud computing systems allows for that digital inter-connectedness and accessibility of information (Hardy).

There appears to be some debate over the positive impact of cloud computing models, while some say that cloud computing will destroy jobs, which once were integral for hardware servers and networks. Others say that existing jobs will not be destroyed, but rather replaced and redefined as well as added to fit the new digital technology—but no one can say for certain what that will look like in the coming years (Kenney).

Although cloud computing does offer easy and instant access to data over the Internet, it is not a perfect system. Cloud computing is susceptible to security flaws like any Internet based system would be, such as stealing or loss of information through hacking (Metz). Physical hardware servers also face similar security risks as well.

Modern libraries take advantage of cloud computing to create a wider net of accessibility of information to the public especially as there is a big push towards and interest in digital materials. 

Works Cited

Hardy, Quentin. "Cloud Computing Systems Lead the Big Data Revolution." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection, Gale, 2018. Opposing Viewpoints In Context, http://link.galegroup.com.ezproxy.palomar.edu/apps/doc/MDGQZH179357633/OVIC?u=cclc_palomar&sid=OVIC&xid=bbcfe35a. Originally published as "The Next Industrial Revolution Will Be in the Cloud," Foundation for Economic Freedom, 7 Aug. 2017.

Kenney, Martin, and John Zysman. "The rise of the platform economy." Issues in Science and Technology, vol. 32, no. 3, 2016, p. 61+. Opposing Viewpoints In Context, http://link.galegroup.com.ezproxy.palomar.edu/apps/doc/A451148625/OVIC?u=cclc_palomar&sid=OVIC&xid=ab0495bc.

Metz, Cade, and Nicole Perlroth. "2 Big Flaws Discovered In Nearly All Computers." New York Times, 4 Jan. 2018, p. B1(L). Opposing Viewpoints In Context, http://link.galegroup.com.ezproxy.palomar.edu/apps/doc/A521259923/OVIC?u=cclc_palomar&sid=OVIC&xid=ad677db0.