Moving Towards the Cloud

Transcription

1 Moving Towards the Cloud Khalid Suliman Al-Tahat Nashrawan Naser Taha Abstract With the advent of the cloud technologies and the huge amount of data being created every day, libraries are facing a problem of data management. This paper reviews the literature to provide a comprehensive understanding of the main techniques and tools that would help libraries to manage the data and to compete in cloud environment and it will also discusses the main challenges of cloud technologies in the library context. Keywords: Library; Data Management; Cloud; Computing. Introduction Cloud computing is the new revolution in computing that is changing the way we use IT technologies. It includes features of many computing technologies including grid computing, Web 2.0, service-oriented architecture, utility computing and unified computing. Unlike all these technologies, cloud computing is provided as a service not as a product. Services of cloud computing are provided on-demand, accessed from browser, and through the Internet. Software and hardware used are all managed by a third part in a remote location. With the dramatic increase in the information resources and the revolution in the library services, there is an urgent call for libraries to give attention to the evolution of the cloud technology and ride the wheel of change that moves steadily towards the cloud (Breeding, 2012). The mission of libraries today has not changed than before; however, users needs and expectations are changing. Consequently, libraries need to take the advantages of the cloud technologies in order to make information more accessible to users more than any time before. 6 8 March 2018 Muscat

2 What is Cloud Computing? There seem to be no consensus about the cloud computing definition. Different definitions found in the literature about cloud computing. However, many of which do not cover important features of cloud computing. Among the mostly cited definitions of cloud computing is the one provided by The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) that covers important aspects of cloud computing. The NIST defined cloud computing as a model for enabling ubiquitous, 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. This cloud model is composed of five essential characteristics, three service models, and four deployment models (Peter Mell, 2011). The characteristics, service models, and deployment models of cloud computing presented in the NIST and others suggested by the literature will be covered in the following sections of this article. Cloud Computing Characteristics Based on the NIST definition of cloud computing, the main characteristics of cloud computing are the following: On- demand self-service. Using an online control panel, cloud consumer can request computing resources without interacting with humans. Broad network access. Cloud computing resources are made available over the network. Cloud consumers can access these resources by heterogeneous client platforms such as workstations, laptops, tablets, and Smart phones. Resource pooling. Computing resources are pooled to serve multiple consumers according to their demand. Cloud consumers use the same physical resources which are securely separated on the logical level. Rapid elasticity. Computing resources can be scaled up (or scaled down) according to the cloud consumer request. For cloud consumer, unlimited capabilities are available at all times. Measured service. Computing resources usage is monitored, controlled, measured and reported at some level of abstraction providing transparency to service consumer as well as service provider. Multi-Tenacity. According to (Espadas et al., 2013), multi-tenacity means that it is essential to have models for policy driven enforcement, segmentation, isolation, governance, service levels and chargeback/billing

3 in providing the library with more resources rather than spending their budgets in the infrastructure. Furthermore, cloud computing can help libraries to efficiently use staff time on innovation and serving users needs instead of maintaining of hardware and software updates. Moreover, cloud computing opens new opportunities for collaboration between librarians, researchers, and users across campuses and countries. Cloud computing allows creative librarians to build useful Apps with little or no support from IT people. Furthermore, cloud computing facilitates Syncing of digital content across multiple devices which allows users to access the digital content from different devices where the librarian can manage digital content from a single location. On the other hand, adopting cloud computing technology in libraries could have some implications. The most important one is security of the library data, and how the cloud provider would guarantee the safety of the library resources. The connectivity and the bandwidth of the internet is another limitation, so libraries need to think of this issue in case of adopting the cloud model. Cloud Computing Applications in Library Libraries are in a good position to benefit from cloud computing advantages of providing affordable access to reliable high-performance hardware and software resources and avoiding maintenance costs and security concerns. Libraries are using cloud computing in number of services. Some of these are: Website hosting Website hosting is one of the earliest to be adopted by organizations and libraries (Kaushik, 2013). This is often due to the shortage of manpower needed to maintain the hosting servers and not having the required bandwidth of the internet. Cloud website hosting allows libraries to scale their resources to cut the operation cost by having the right resource in place at the right time. Multiple librarians can access the website as editor from different locations. Cloud website guarantees the availability of the library website. Cloud host (e.g. Google Sites) uses a number of virtual private servers, if one server goes down another server will come to life picking up the slack. Storage Data storage is a main function of modern libraries. Libraries use a massive storage capacity to store electronic files and different types of digital documents. Currently, these resources are stored in local servers and accessed from personal computers. These collections of digital files can stress the local server infrastructures. Cloud storage is a new business solution for remote backup outsourcing, as it offers an abstraction of infinite storage space for clients to host data backups [M. Armbrust, 2010] 6 8 March 2018 Muscat

4 for different consumer categories Auditability and certifiability. It is important for services to prepare logs and trails to make it possible to evaluate the degree to which regulations and polices are observed (Hamdaqa &Tahvildari, 2012) Cloud Computing Service Models Cloud computing service model constitute from the following three models: Software as a Service (SaaS). In this model, cloud provider handles the installation, operation, and maintenance of the software applications in the cloud. Cloud consumer access these applications through some cloud client. Applications are delivered on demand over the network through subscription or in a payas-you-go model. Cloud consumers have limited authority on application configurations. Examples of SaaS model services are Google docs, Microsoft 365, and Prezi.com. Platform as a Service (PaaS) In this model, cloud provider supplies computing platform as a service. This may include operating system, network, servers, and development environments and tools. Cloud consumer uses these to develop acquired software and manage their configurations. In PaaS model, cloud consumers pay only for what they use. Examples of this model services are Google AppEngine, Window azure, and Elastic cloud. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). In this model, cloud provider makes storage, servers, network, and other hardware components available on the cloud. Cloud consumer deploys his own software on the infrastructure provided. Housing, running, and maintaining of the equipments is the responsibility of the service provider. Examples of the IaaS model services are Amazon Web Services, Rackspace, and GoGrid. Cloud Computing and Libraries Considering the huge amount of information that libraries should handle, the efficiency in processing of its operations and the opportunities for collaboration with other libraries, there is a real need for libraries to adopt the cloud technology. In fact, cloud computing would help libraries to reduce technology costs and increase capacity, reliability, and performance (Breeding, 2009) and extend their impact (Goldner, (2010). Cloud computing provides libraries with the needed efficiency by investing

5 technology without significant upfront expensive investment which was prohibitively expensive before. Hosting library servers on the cloud free libraries from challenges of developing countries local markets such as cost-related constrains, security issues, and infrastructure availability. Cloud computing allows libraries in developing countries can access the same advance features as their peers in developed countries. This makes librarians creativity, innovation, and skills factors of success regardless of the geographical location. Initiatives in Cloud Libraries In the following section a number of library initiatives that have already adopted the cloud computing technology OCLC OCLC is a global library cooperative that establishes, maintains, and operates a computerized library network to promote the evolution of library use and provide share technology services, original research, and community progress for its users. OCLC makes information more accessible and more useful than any time before, thanks for the thousands of library members in more than 100 countries. OCLC- Wrorldshare Management Service (WMS) [?], which is one of many OCLC services, offers libraries cost saving, workflow efficiencies and the ability to deliver new to users through sharing data and working across many member libraries. WorlsCat [?] the largest online public access catalog (OPAC) in the world, was produced and is currently maintained by OCLC and its member libraries [ ]. Ex-Libris Ex-Libris [?] is a leading provider of library automation suite for the discovery, management, and distribution of all types of library materials. Ex-Libris provides products of high software quality including usability, flexibility, and maintainability. One important Ex-Libris product is Alma which supports library collaboration and helps in optimizing users experience and collections with rich analytics. With Alma, the entire library collection can be managed through a single interface saving the librarian time to serve users with a collection optimized for their needs []. Conclusion Cloud computing is an advancement of information technology that promises bright future for libraries and ease providing their services and supporting patrons in a creative and an innovative ways. Having in mind the limitations of cloud computing, library services such as storage, automation, and digital libraries are movable towards the cloud. Financial challenges that often face libraries and skills and professional challenges that face library staff are much reduced with the help of cloud computing services. Libraries in developed counties have taken wide steps towards 6 8 March 2018 Muscat

6 and enables documents share. Cloud storage can significantly reduce libraries financial overhead of data management and facilitate collaborative activities with other libraries. Examples of cloud storage service providers are Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Box, and Amazon Cloud. Automation The importance of library automation was stated by (Aswal, 2006) a process that increases staff productivity, enhances housekeeping operations, enables advancement in technology, and enables access to external information through the Internet. Moving this process to the cloud will further save staff library time and redirect it their effort to innovation and serving library users. Cost-wise, libraries will be freed from investing on hardware and undertaking software maintenance. Software venders such as Ex-libris and Koha) are providing library automation service as a SaaS approach on the cloud. Digital libraries Digital library service is an important part of the modern libraries. Libraries are presently offering this service using open source software such as Fedora and DSpace which need to be hosted locally. Librarian handle adding resources to the digital library and IIT staff provide the needed servers maintenance and perform updates, backups and installations of new version releases of the open source software. Cloud vendors such as Duraspace are providing digital libraries service as a SaaS approach, frees libraries from the financial burdens of providing the infrastructure and librarians and IT staff from the ponderous work. Cloud Libraries and Information Community Cloud libraries can take the advantage of cloud computing services to create an online information community networks. These communities can be built within the same institution, across institutions, and from information seekers [Goldner, M. R. (2010)]. Cloud computing can improve the online presence of a library by facilitating sharing data with interested users. Collaboration among community members can be facilitated by services such as Google Docs where people can easily share files and jointly work regardless of time and locations. Librarians can gather valuable information from the public through cloud social media and cloudsourcing. Information seekers can be made part of the process through life streaming of library major activities which allows users to join these events and strengthen the library community ties. Cloud Libraries in Developing Countries Cloud computing gives libraries in developing countries the chance to release their potential and benefit from advancement of the information

7 adopting cloud computing technologies, where libraries in the developed countries are making advantage of opportunities provided by cloud computing which free them from local challenges and constrains and level the playing field with libraries in the developed countries making skills the success factors other than financial status and geographical location. References Aswal, R. S. (2006), Library Automation for 21st Century. New Delhi: ESS Publications. pp58- Breeding, M. (2009). The advance of computing from the ground to the cloud. Computers in Libraries, 29(10), Breeding, M. (2012). Current and Future Trends in Information Technologies for Information Units. El profesional de la información, 21(1). Espadas et al., A tenant-based resource allocation model for scaling Software-as-a-Service applications over cloud computing infrastructures Goldner, M. R. (2010). Winds of change: libraries and cloud computing. BIBLIOTHEK Forschung und Praxis, 34(3), Hamdaqa &Tahvildari, Cloud Computing Uncovered: A Research Landscape Kaur, K. (2014). Moving libraries to the cloud. International Journal of Information Dissemination and Technology, 4(1), Kaushik, A., & Kumar, A. (2013). Application of cloud computing in libraries. International Journal of Information Dissemination and Technology, 3(4), 270. Marston, S., Li, Z., Bandyopadhyay, S., Zhang, J., & Ghalsasi, A. (2011). Cloud computing The business perspective. Decision support systems, 51(1), M. Armbrust, A. Fox, R. Griffith, A. D. Joseph, R. Katz, A. Konwinski, G. Lee, D. Patterson, A. Rabkin, I. Stoica, and M. Zaharia. A View of Cloud Computing. Comm. of the ACM, 53(4):50 58, Apr Ex-Libris - Alma OCLC WorldCat- WMS -