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Article information:
To cite this document:
JOTHAM MILIMO WASIKE , (2015),"Opening libraries to cloud computing: a Kenyan perspective", Library Hi Tech News, Vol. 32
Iss 3 pp. 21 - 24
Permanent link to this document:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/LHTN-09-2014-0072
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Introduction
The National Institute of Standards
and Technology defines cloud computing
as a model for enabling ubiquitous,
convenient, on-demand network access
to a shared pool of configurable
computing resources (such as networks,
servers, storage facilities, applications,
and services) that can be rapidly
provisioned and released with minimal
management effort or with service
provider interaction. It is suffice to
define cloud computing as an Internet
technological innovation that provides
a platform for massive information
resource sharing, thus minimizing
carbon footprints and making libraries
greener (Goldner, 2010a, 2010b).
Without knowing it, modern libraries
are embracing new software and other
related hosting services to provide
innovative products and services for
preserving intellectual efforts (Leckie
and Buschman, 2010). These services
may include Web application in social
cataloging. Many studies show that
libraries worldwide suffer related
problems associated with inflexibility,
inefficiency of digital data and high
management costs of information
communication
technology
(ICT)
infrastructure. A major solution to this
menace is incorporating cloud computing
in library services. The purpose of this
paper is to look specifically at how cloud
computing can be used by libraries and
what needs to be considered before
embracing a cloud computing solution.
Framingham (2013) forecasts that
worldwide
spending
on
public
information technology (IT) cloud
services will reach $47.4 billion in
2013. The expenditure is expected to
rise to more than $107 billion in 2017.
According to a new forecast from the
International Data Corporation, over
the 2013-2017 forecast period, public
IT cloud services will have a compound
LIBRARY HI TECH NEWS Number 3 2015, pp. 21-24, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 0741-9058, DOI 10.1108/LHTN-09-2014-0072
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Table I.
Type of clouds and their descriptions
Type of cloud
Description
Google Apps
Office 365
Dropbox
LibLime Koha
OverDrive
Flickr
LibGuides
Google Hangouts
Skype
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IT knowledge: In a study
conducted by Mitchell (2011) it
was established that expertise was
a motivating factor to install or
not
to
install
an
ICT
infrastructure. He argued that
expertise and capacity in a library
can be a daunting task to
quantify. The skills needed for
cloud
computing
include
configuration,
server
skills,
software
engineering
and
management
of
cloud
infrastructure. Limoncelli and
Hogan (2001) further state that IT
staff capacity planning for
management
and
end-user
support is essential.
Availability: The cloud service
should be available 24/7 and
accessible in real-time. In these
cases, vendors are able to upgrade
electronic database that may
motivate libraries to use SaaS
instead of a locally implemented
method (Mitchell, 2011). Do the
services provide cloud computing?
They should provide!
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