Dr. G. Ramadas

Deputy Librarian, Noorul Islam University, Thuckalay-629180

Cloud computing is defined as “dynamicallyscalable, virtualized information services deliveredon-demand over the network in a pay-per-usemodel”. The National Institute of Standards andTechnology ( NIST) defines Cloud computing as amodel for enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool ofconfigurable computing resources (e.g., networks,servers, storage, applications, and services) thatcan be rapidly provisioned and released withminimal management effort or service providerinteraction.

Cloud computing creates a fundamentalchange in computer architecture, softwareand tools development, and of course, in theway we store, distribute and consumeinformation. Cloud computing refers to boththe applications delivered as services over theInternet and the hardware and systemsoftware in the data centers that providethose services.

Cloud computing architecture featuresare pushing all the data and servicesto the web and the added value in thistransition may be used by a newgeneration of libraries where servicesand data coexist transparently “in thecloud”.

Reduced Cost

Increased Storage

Flexibility

Feasibility

The library community can apply the conceptof cloud computing to amplify the power ofcooperation and to build a significant, unifiedpresence on the Web. This approach tocomputing can help libraries save time andmoney while simplifying workflows.

Cloud computing can take the library facility atthe most convenient state to its stakeholdersthan other technical approaches. Cloudcomputing can provide the optimum libraryservices to the users by centralizing theresources and disk spaces of any digital library.This concept will open more doors and windowswidely, which will let many more users get theiraccess from the library. Cloud computing canprovide an uninterrupted service to itsstakeholders. This revolutionary concept cansave time for all the stakeholders by providingthe efficient library services.

The library automation system has gone from inception torapid implementation to near ubiquitous adoption. Thelibrary has seen itself facing tremendous changes in terms ofboth resources and services it provides. On the resource side,print material and physical items are no longer dominantcollections; electronic resources are fast outpacing physicalmaterials to become the dominant library resources,especially in the academic and special libraries. In addition,many other digital format resources, such as digitalcollections, institutional repositories, and e-books have takenroot. On the service front, library users—accustomed toimmediate and instant searching, finding, and accessinginformation in the Google age—demand more and moreinstant and easy access to library resources and services

comprehensive library resources management;

a system based on service-oriented architecture;

the ability to meet the challenge of new library workflow; and

a next-generation discovery layer.

The scope for utilizing the cloud computingtechnology in the field of library andinformation services are more due to variousconstraints such as cost, space, manpower,time and outdated technology. It can also beused to manage both print and digitalcontent and make more use of knowledgebases for efficient resource management.More studies are to be carried out thefeasibility and scope for its implementationsin the library and information centers.