CLOUD-BASED SERVICES PROSPECTS FOR THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Puttaraj A ChoukimathPuttaraj A ChoukimathK.B.AgadiK.B.Agadi

andandMuttayya KoganuramathMuttayya Koganuramath

99thth International CALIBER2013 International CALIBER2013March 21-23, 2013, March 21-23, 2013, INFLIBNET Centre, Infocity, Gandhinagar (Gujarat), INDIAINFLIBNET Centre, Infocity, Gandhinagar (Gujarat), INDIA

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INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION Cloud computing' is the latest ICT buzzword!

Globally, it is being fast adopted by many businesses, industries and organizations.

Ever since, libraries being the front runners in adopting any new technology tool, have found cloud-based technologies as a hope for their every purpose.

Cloud-based technologies help to avoid locally hosting multiple servers and equipment and constantly dealing with hardware failure, software installs, up gradations and compatibility issues.

Cloud computing can enable simplified processes, achieve economy in terms of time and money.

A cloud-based computing technology allows sharing of data, software and computing mechanism and facilitates seamless access from a shared, remote server.

It is hugely beneficial to the institutions, libraries, and learners.

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Understanding cloud-based computing [1]Understanding cloud-based computing [1]

Cloud computing is a general term for anything that involves delivering hosted Cloud computing is a general term for anything that involves delivering hosted services over the Internet, which are broadly divided into three categories: services over the Internet, which are broadly divided into three categories:

'infrastructure-as-a-service','infrastructure-as-a-service',

'platform-as-a-service' and'platform-as-a-service' and

'software-as-a-service'.'software-as-a-service'.

The name cloud computing was inspired by the cloud symbol that's often used to The name cloud computing was inspired by the cloud symbol that's often used to represent the Internet in flowcharts and diagrams. represent the Internet in flowcharts and diagrams.

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) had provided a universally National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) had provided a universally acceptable definition of 'cloud-computing, as follows:acceptable definition of 'cloud-computing, as follows:

““cloud computing is a model for enabling convenient, on-demand network access to cloud computing is a model for enabling convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction. This cloud model with minimal management effort or service provider interaction. This cloud model promotes availability and is composed of five essential characteristics, three promotes availability and is composed of five essential characteristics, three service models, and four deployment models.”service models, and four deployment models.”

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Understanding cloud-based computing [2]Understanding cloud-based computing [2]

A cloud can be private or public.A cloud can be private or public.

A public cloud sells services to anyone on the A public cloud sells services to anyone on the Internet. (Currently, Amazon Web Services is the Internet. (Currently, Amazon Web Services is the largest public cloud provider).largest public cloud provider).

A private cloud is a proprietary network or a data A private cloud is a proprietary network or a data centre that supplies hosted services to a limited centre that supplies hosted services to a limited number of people.number of people.

When a service provider uses public cloud When a service provider uses public cloud resources to create their private cloud, the result resources to create their private cloud, the result is called a virtual private cloud.is called a virtual private cloud.

Private or public, the goal of cloud computing is to Private or public, the goal of cloud computing is to provide easy, scalable access to computing provide easy, scalable access to computing resources and IT services.resources and IT services.

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NIST prescribed essential characteristicsNIST prescribed essential characteristics

On-demand self-serviceOn-demand self-service

A consumer can unilaterally provision computing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, A consumer can unilaterally provision computing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, as needed automatically without requiring human interaction with each service provider.as needed automatically without requiring human interaction with each service provider.

Broad network accessBroad network access

Capabilities are available over the network and accessed through standard mechanisms that promote Capabilities are available over the network and accessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneous thin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and use by heterogeneous thin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and workstations).workstations).

Resource poolingResource pooling

The provider’s computing resources are pooled to serve multiple consumers using a multi-tenant The provider’s computing resources are pooled to serve multiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with different physical and virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according to model, with different physical and virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according to consumer demand.consumer demand.

Rapid elasticityRapid elasticity

Capabilities can be elastically provisioned and released, in some cases automatically, to scale rapidly Capabilities can be elastically provisioned and released, in some cases automatically, to scale rapidly outward and inward commensurate with demand. outward and inward commensurate with demand.

Measured serviceMeasured service

Cloud systems automatically control and optimize resource use by leveraging a metering capability at Cloud systems automatically control and optimize resource use by leveraging a metering capability at some level of abstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage, processing, bandwidth, and some level of abstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage, processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts).active user accounts). 5

Potentiality of library services and facilitiesPotentiality of library services and facilities

Access to Content - all electronic and print resources.Access to Content - all electronic and print resources.

Library Management Services - access to OPAC and other modules Library Management Services - access to OPAC and other modules of the library for circulation, acquisition, serials control, issue of of the library for circulation, acquisition, serials control, issue of books etc.books etc.

Single gateway facility to subscribed resources through Journals Single gateway facility to subscribed resources through Journals discovery service and federated discovery service.discovery service and federated discovery service.

Remote authentication to users outside the campus to all the Remote authentication to users outside the campus to all the resources of the library.resources of the library.

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Advantages of Cloud-based Library Services [1]Advantages of Cloud-based Library Services [1]

Library would not have to maintain its own hardware, so that, it can cut down on technology costs Library would not have to maintain its own hardware, so that, it can cut down on technology costs and improve the quality of services.and improve the quality of services.

Cloud based computing model reshapes the technology suit into a service, which in fact a web-Cloud based computing model reshapes the technology suit into a service, which in fact a web-based application based on an external infrastructure. based application based on an external infrastructure.

Its 'software-as-a-service' mechanism can involve the libraries and their users sharing a single Its 'software-as-a-service' mechanism can involve the libraries and their users sharing a single software platform!software platform!

Enables libraries to upload their updates and enhancements for once and for all their users.Enables libraries to upload their updates and enhancements for once and for all their users.

Customize several applications by the individual user and/or a library Customize several applications by the individual user and/or a library

Cloud-based technology facilitates efficient access management, authorization of users, Cloud-based technology facilitates efficient access management, authorization of users, utilisation data and knowledge resources.utilisation data and knowledge resources.

Facilitates handling of users' increasingly demanding information services.Facilitates handling of users' increasingly demanding information services.

Provides advantage to the institution to rent out server space and application space on third party Provides advantage to the institution to rent out server space and application space on third party infrastructure based on the usage of the application and space.infrastructure based on the usage of the application and space.

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Advantages of Cloud-based Library Services [2]Advantages of Cloud-based Library Services [2]

Address the security issues of content and data.Address the security issues of content and data.

Keep quality services of all the users and the services they access.Keep quality services of all the users and the services they access.

Provide a single platform branding to your library.Provide a single platform branding to your library.

Provide all services of the library under one roof.Provide all services of the library under one roof.

Savings on investment of hardware and software infrastructure.Savings on investment of hardware and software infrastructure.

Users' real-time participation on the webUsers' real-time participation on the web

Increases visibility of knowledge resources and servicesIncreases visibility of knowledge resources and services

Enhanced accessibilityEnhanced accessibility

Reduces duplicationReduces duplication

Streamlines work-flowsStreamlines work-flows

Cooperative intelligence Cooperative intelligence

Improves service qualityImproves service quality

Aggregation of usage dataAggregation of usage data

Reduces carbon footprintsReduces carbon footprints

Encourages libraries and their users participation in a network. sources.Encourages libraries and their users participation in a network. sources.

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ChallengesChallenges

With all these offerings, cloud based library services still poses the With all these offerings, cloud based library services still poses the challenges such as:challenges such as:

Security,Security,

Privacy,Privacy,

Standardization,Standardization,

continued evolution/innovation,continued evolution/innovation,

compliance, etc.compliance, etc.

These need to be addressed well during the planning stage!These need to be addressed well during the planning stage!

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ConclusionConclusion Cloud computing offers 'Information Retrieval' services to university libraries, particularly digital libraries Cloud computing offers 'Information Retrieval' services to university libraries, particularly digital libraries

and search engines, and search engines, a wider variety of options for growth and reduction of maintenance needs and a wider variety of options for growth and reduction of maintenance needs and encourages efficient resources use.encourages efficient resources use.

The The dynamic and elastic featuresdynamic and elastic features of a cloud based infrastructure allow of a cloud based infrastructure allow

rapid growth in collection size,rapid growth in collection size,

support a larger user base, and support a larger user base, and

reduce management issues.reduce management issues.

With cloud-based computing technologies and tools shall take care of With cloud-based computing technologies and tools shall take care of transparencytransparency for the library and for the library and user.user.

The university libraries need to harness the power of the cloud-based technologies, which has assurance The university libraries need to harness the power of the cloud-based technologies, which has assurance of of performing computationally intense task at record speedperforming computationally intense task at record speed and and maintain the huge datamaintain the huge data..

Although the cloud-based technologies are in the evolving stage, they have many advantages, which for Although the cloud-based technologies are in the evolving stage, they have many advantages, which for sure, sure,

to help the university libraries in managing their organisational as well as personal data,to help the university libraries in managing their organisational as well as personal data,

their information products and services, and their information products and services, and

enhancing user satisfaction and accomplishing their academic objectives.enhancing user satisfaction and accomplishing their academic objectives.10

Thank You!Thank You! ALLALL

Mr. Puttaraj ChoukimathMr. Puttaraj Choukimath

Asst. Librarian (SS), SDTM Library, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, INDIA.Asst. Librarian (SS), SDTM Library, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, INDIA.

choukimath@tiss.edu, choukimath@gmail.com choukimath@tiss.edu, choukimath@gmail.com

Dr. K.B.AgadiDr. K.B.Agadi

Asst. Librarian, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, INDIA.Asst. Librarian, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, INDIA.

kbagadi@gmail.com kbagadi@gmail.com

andand

Prof. Muttayya KoganuramathProf. Muttayya Koganuramath

Professor & Head, DLISc, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, INDIA.Professor & Head, DLISc, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, INDIA.

muttayy53@gmail.commuttayy53@gmail.com

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