A Review of Cloud Computing and Applications to Academic Library

Omole Victoria Imabong^{* *}Correspondence: Omole Victoria Imabong, Department of Library and Information Science, Ekiti State University Ekiti State, Nigeria, Email:

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Introduction

The new era of technological trend has enabled the discovery of a new computing model known as cloud computing which involves resources (e.g., CPU and storage) being provided as general utilities that can be leased and released by users through the Internet in an on-demand fashion. It has emerged as a buzz word in the distributed computing community. So it will be necessary to define cloud computing, look at the models of cloud computing, challenges and issues in cloud computing.

Libraries are using computers for running services such as Integrated Library Management Software (ILMS), website or portal, digital library or institutional repository, etc. These are either maintained by parent organization’s computer staff or library staff. It involves investment on hardware, software, and staff to maintain these services and undertake backup and upgrade as when new version of the software gets released. Library professionals in most cases are not being trained in maintaining servers, find it difficult to undertake some of these activities without the support of IT staff from within or outside the organization. Now cloud computing has become a new buzzword in the field of libraries, which is blessing in disguise to run different ICT services without much of a problem as third-party services will manage servers and undertake upgrades and take backup of data.

For further clarification of terms, I aim to define key research issues and articulate future research challenges and directions for cloud computing. To this end, the following will be discussed; cloud, cloud computing, characteristics of cloud computing, cloud computing service models, advantages and disadvantages of cloud computing, academic libraries, application of cloud computing to academic libraries to mention but few.

Literature Review

What is cloud?

According to Lewis, the word cloud is used as a metaphor for the internet. It is based on the standardized use of a cloudlike shape to denote a network on telephony schematics and later to depict the Internet in computer network diagrams as an abstraction of the underlying infrastructure it represents [1].

It refers to servers that are accessed over the internet and the software and databases that run on those servers. That is, network or internet. Services can be provided using network, i.e., on public networks or on private networks (WAN, LAN or VPN) through the cloud. Applications such as e-mail, web conferencing, customer relationship management all run in cloud. It enables users to access the same files and applications from any devices due to computing and storage that takes place on servers in a data centre.

Review of cloud computing

Cloud computing lacks standard definition which has generated not only market hypes, but also, a fair amount of skepticism and confusion. Various definitions and interpretations for cloud computing shall be examined.

According to Lewis G., “Cloud” element of cloud computing can be seen as an acronym that stands for:

C: Stands for computing resources.
L: Stands for location independent.
O: Can be accessed via online means.
U: Used as a utility.
D: Is available on demand.

Cloud computing can be simply defined as a new style of computing in which dynamically scalable and often virtualized resources are provided as a services over the internet. That is, it is the use of internet for computing needs. According to Wikipedia, cloud computing is “the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a metered service over a network, typically the internet” [2].

For further simplification, Scale, M.S. defines cloud computing as “the sharing and using of applications and resources of a network environment to get work done without concern about ownership and management of the network’s resources and applications” [3]. Gartner Group defined cloud computing as “a style of computing in which massively scalable and elastic IT-enabled capabilities are delivered as a service to external customers using internet technologies.” [4]. While Forrester defines cloud computing as “A pool of abstracted, highly scalable, and managed compute infrastructure capable of hosting end-customer applications and billed by consumption” [5].

A definition was also given by Buyya. He defined cloud computing as:

• A parallel and distributed computing system.
• Consisting of a collection of inter-connected and virtualized computers.
• They are dynamically provisioned and presented as one or more unified computing resources.
• Are based on Service Level Agreements (SLA) established through negotiation between the service provider and consumers [6].

In order to have a universally acceptable definition, a definition was given by U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). They defined cloud computing as” a model for enabling 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 promotes availability and is composed of five essential characteristics, three service models, and four deployment models” [7]. This simply means that cloud computing is a network computing model that relies on distributed systems to deliver computing services on demand. Cloud computing facilitates remote access to robust computing process rather than requiring local infrastructure and expertise to configure and merge hardware. This definition includes cloud architectures, security, and deployment strategies.

In particular, five essential elements of cloud computing is clearly identified. They are as follows:

• On-demand self-service: This ensures computing capabilities, without having engineers for peak loads. That is, consumers provides computing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, without requiring human interaction with each service provider.
• Broad network access: Computing capabilities are available over the network (e.g. internet) and can be accessed through any standardized mechanism which promotes use by heterogeneous platforms (such as mobile phones, laptops, and PDAs) situated at a consumer's site.
• Resource pooling: This involves multi-tenancy. That is, cloud service providers pool their resources that are then shared by multiple users. For example a physical server may host several virtual machines belonging to different users on demand, resulting in cost savings to the user. Customer generally has no control or knowledge over the exact location of the provided resources but may be able to specify location at a higher level of abstraction (e.g., country, state, or data centre) due to the sense of location independence. Examples of resources include storage, processing, memory, and network bandwidth.
• Rapid elasticity: A user can quickly acquire more resources from the cloud by scaling out and also scale back by releasing those resources once they are no longer required. The capabilities available for provisioning often appear to be unlimited and can be appropriated in any quantity at any time to the consumers.
• Measured service: Cloud infrastructure is able to use appropriate mechanisms in measuring the usage of the resources for each individual consumer through its metering capability despite the fact that computing resources are pooled and shared by multiple consumers (i.e. multi-tenancy) [8].

Types of cloud computing

Cloud Computing can be broadly divided into two. They are:

• On the basis of service
• On the basis of usage

On the basis of service

• Infrastructure: This is a typical resource cloud computing. It is provided by third party as a service to users to use them the way they want. An example is the amazon simple storage service (Amazon S3).
• Platform: It is a set of computer application developed and hosted on the cloud to access and manage the data. Here, the cloud providers deliver a computing platform typically including operating system, programming language execution environment, database, and web server. For example: Google app Engine, Windows Azure (platform).
• Services: They are the set of applications developed by the service provider to use both the cloud infrastructure and platform. For example: Google Docs

On the basis of usage

• Private clouds: They are available only to the members of the organization. They facilitate user to store and disseminate their data on respective cloud. It offers the highest degree of control over performance, reliability and security. However, they are often criticized for being similar to traditional proprietary server farms and do not provide benefits such as no up-front capital costs. They are also known as internal clouds. For example: Institutional cloud, ebay etc.
• Public clouds: This involves an organisation using cloud service from third party which may be available for free or with cost. It lacks fine-grained control over data, network and security settings, which hampers their effectiveness in many business scenarios. Examples are Google apps, Windows Azure.
• Hybrid clouds: This is a combination of public and private cloud models .This tries to address the limitations of each approach. In this type of cloud, part of the service infrastructure runs in private clouds while the remaining part runs in public clouds. This is more flexible in nature than both public and private clouds. They also provide tighter control and security over application data compared to public clouds, while still facilitating on-demand service expansion and contraction. The only disadvantage is that, designing a hybrid cloud requires carefully determining the best split between public and private cloud components.
• Special clouds: They are extensions of normal cloud system that provides additional services. For example: Google app engine.
• Community clouds: This involves several organizations jointly constructing and sharing the same cloud infrastructure as well as policies, requirements, values, and concerns. That is, they are specifically organized clouds and are limited for specific group. The cloud community forms into a degree of economic scalability and democratic equilibrium. E.g Institutional Gmail of Google apps (Figure 1).

Figure-1: Community clouds.

Characteristics of cloud computing

According to Wang et al., cloud computing has the following number of features compared to other computing paradigms. They are as follows:

• Scalability and on-demand services: Cloud computing provides resources and services for users on demand. The resources are scalable over several data centres. That is, scalability and availability issues cause clients to break these agreements.
• User-centric interface: Cloud interfaces are location independent and can be accessed by well-established interfaces such as Web services and Internet browsers.
• Guaranteed Quality of Service (QoS): Cloud computing guarantees QoS for users in terms of hardware/CPU performance, bandwidth, and memory capacity.
• Autonomous system: The cloud computing systems are autonomous systems managed transparently to users. However, software and data inside clouds can be automatically reconfigured and consolidated to a simple platform depending on user’s needs.
• Pricing: Cloud computing does not require up-from investment. No capital expenditure is required. Users pay for services and capacity as they need them.

Cloud computing services

Services are provided by cloud computing providers through three (3) basic fundamental models. They are as follows:

• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): This provides basic storage and computing capabilities as standardized services over the network. Servers, storage systems, networking equipment, data centre space etc. are pooled and made available to handle workloads. The customer would typically deploy his own software on the infrastructure. Some common examples are Amazon, GoGrid, 3 Tera, etc.
• Software as a Service (SaaS): This Involves cloud providers installing and operating application software in the cloud and cloud users access the software from cloud clients. Its elasticity makes this cloud application different from other applications. This is achieved by cloning tasks onto multiple virtual machines at run-time to meet the changing work demand. Software as a service only runs software developed by its vendors according to NIST. SaaS services can be accessed using user interfaces, such as web browsers via stationary and mobile devices.
• Platform as a Service (PaaS): This service enables the deployment of customized and acquired applications using tools and programming languages developed by the provider. It offers services, such as device integration, sandboxes, testing and instrumentation, session, content, and knowledge management. That is, the enterprises are helped in building, testing and deploying web based applications. The organisations do not need to invest for the infrastructure they require for building web and mobile applications but they have to simply rent, the use of platforms of vendors such as Windows Azure, Google AppEngine, and Force.com. This service is like water and electricity facility, where the users have to simply ‘’tap in’’ and take what they need without worrying about the complexity. It is based on subscription model. Users only pay for what they use. Users can focus on innovation instead of complex infrastructure.

Libraries and cloud computing

We are living in the information era. Information technology plays a very vital role in handing library resources which ranges from collection, storage, organization, processing, and analysis of information dissemination and so on. Librarians are facing many challenges in the profession due to applications of information technology. In order to satisfy the needs of the knowledge society, new concepts and technologies are being added to ease the practices in the libraries. The emergence of digital library, internet usage, web tools application for libraries, consortium practices leads to the advancement in library profession.

Cloud computing is a completely new IT technology and it is known as the third revolution after PC and internet in IT. The later technology trend in library science is the use of cloud computing for various purposes and for achieving economy in library functions. Since cloud computing is a new and core area, professionals should be aware of it and also the application of cloud computing in library science. Libraries are now moving towards cloud computing technology in present time and taking advantages of cloud based services especially in digital libraries, social networking and information communication. Therefore, it is time for libraries think seriously for libraries services with cloud based technologies and provide reliable and rapid services to their users.

Application of cloud computing in academic libraries

In order to access its services anywhere and anytime, libraries are now shifting their services with the attachment of cloud and networking with the facilities. Libraries are using computers for running services such as Integrated Library Management Software (ILMS), website or portal, digital library or institutional repository, etc. These are either maintained by parent organisation’s computer staff or library staff. It involves investment on hardware, software, and staff to maintain these services and undertake backup and upgrade as and when new version of the software gets released. Cloud based services provide a means for libraries to free resources on information technologies and focus on libraries core competencies-manage, organize and disseminate information.

The following are the possible areas where cloud computing services and applications may be applied:

• Information literacy/orientation: Libraries conduct information literacy and orientation courses on the cloud. They can keep the tutorials, videos, presentations and files on the cloud for user’s orientation.
• Building digital library/repositories: Every library develops digital library software. Cloud computing software help libraries to build an effective and efficient digital library and digital repositories. An example is the Dura space cloud based digital library software which is having two software’s namely D-space and Fedora Commons acts as a complete solution for developing digital libraries/repositories with standard interfaces and open source codes for the both software.
• Union/shared catalogue/OPAC: Here network libraries use the same platform and gives access to their collection on one platform. Through cloud computing creation of union catalogue becomes very easy.
• Collection development: Cloud computing is also used for collection development. Duplications can be easily avoided and alternate resources can be located and made accessible to patrons.
• Cataloguing and classification: Cloud computing can also help in the area of cataloguing and classification by searching the clouds through KOHA for the books and classify them. For example: Polaris provides variant cloud based services such as acquisitions, cataloguing, process system, digital contents and provision for inclusion of cutting edge technologies used in libraries.
• Document download service: Downloading of documents is also ease if there is permission of access in the network.
• Searching scholarly content: To share various files in electronic form become easy with the cloud computing. Cloud computing facilitates platform to discover and share the scholarly content. It acts as collaborative platform to empower libraries for dynamic searching and also for single point search interface, maximizes the usage of all e-resources, customized search across selected sources reduces noise and highlights relevant content and tools to support the complete research lifecycle.
• E-Learning: cloud computing is boon in the E-Learning environment too. Study materials are kept on the cloud for reference purpose. Online examinations also can be conducted. Discussions, revisions can be done at a time from different places. This was done during COVID-19 era.
• Searching library data: Cloud computing technology also facilitates libraries for searching and sharing its data for years together. OCLC world cat service has being one of the popular services for searching library data using cloud computing technology. OCLC offers various library activities pertaining to circulation, cataloguing, acquisition and other library related services on cloud platform through the web share management system.
• Social interactions with the users: social interaction can be possible also through cloud computing.
• Digital preservation/scanning service: Digitization and scanning work is done centrally so as to avoid duplication and time consuming work. Libraries can preserve the collection in digital form in the form of archives.

Cloud computing initiatives for libraries

The following are some of the cloud computing initiatives for libraries:

• Duraspace cloud: This provides open source repository solutions by undertaking turnkey projects for organizations and libraries to enable them to share scholarly literature using D-space and fedora commons. Its new service Dura cloud provides digital preservation support services in the cloud, which is cost effective and simple for libraries. It also helps libraries to move content to the cloud and store it with different service providers to eliminate the risk of data loss. The cloud solutions offers include online backup, preservation and archives, media access and online sharing.
• OCLC webscale: OCLC set an example for other cloud computing in libraries. Years back OCLC has been functioning as a cloud computing vendor because they provide cataloguing tools over the internet and allow member institutions to draw on their centralised data store. It has implemented the plan of library management systems i.e. Worldshare Management Services (WMS). It has services for many areas in the library such as acquisitions, analytics, and resource sharing, cataloguing and license management components. It offers the entire library collection management in a cloud based application. It also has some certain features that work together to provide its users better library services and generates cost benefits for libraries and efficiencies not possibly when utilizing disparate, specialised systems. The service promises to include privacy, security, scalability and technical support.
• Ex-Libris cloud: It is a leading provider of cloud-based solutions that automate library operations. In order to create a unified platform for both the management and discovery of library resources, over 5300 customers in more than 80 countries, including 175 of top 250 universities worldwide and over 40 national libraries deploy Ex-Libris solutions. This cloud-based solution allow libraries to lower operational costs, enhance efficiency, and extend their value to the organization through diverse new services and collaboration with other libraries and organizations. It also provides streamlined access to all the library’s collections-whether online journals, e-books, printed resources or digital material.
• OSS (Open Source Software) labs: Owing to the various capabilities of Amazon such as high durability of data, strong information security based on ISO standards, scalability, and flexibility, OSS labs from India is using Amazon’s elastic cloud computing platform. It is expected that the OSS labs will be able to provide robust open based solutions to demanding customers. Using Amazon’s cloud services, it is offering Koha, ILS and DSpace institutional repository hosting and software maintenance subscription services for libraries.

Discussion

Advantages of cloud computing in libraries

The following are some of the advantages of cloud computing in the library:

• Cost saving: In cloud computing, library only pays for those services which he chooses and this enables the libraries to save on costs. That is, cloud computing technology is paid incrementally.
• Easy on installation and maintenance: Libraries does not need to worry about constant server updates and other computing issues.
• Automation: With the help of cloud computing technology, every software update or maintenance is done automatically by the service provider and the IT or library staff.
• Increased storage: Cloud can hold more storage than a personal computer or the servers available in the libraries and it is possible to extend as per the need.
• Flexibility: For requesting for an additional space on the servers, cloud computing technology offers more flexibility to libraries to expand the services anytime and any day.
• Shared resources: This is the main and important feature of cloud computing that participating libraries can share their resources. This is known as consortium. By sharing their resources, they can save on costs and more libraries can access more number of resources at one place.
• Better mobility: Rather than having to remain present at their desks with a PC and internet connection, users can access the library servers from wherever they are.

Disadvantages

• Network connectivity and bandwidth: Since the cloud computing is offered over the Internet, if the connection goes down due to any reason, then the libraries suffer from loss of data connectivity till the time it is set. Also the service requires more bandwidth, as it may not work on low speed internet connection.
• Data security and privacy: This is the biggest challenge in cloud computing. If proper security model is not put in place, then the data stored on the cloud is vulnerable to attacks from viruses, theft, etc. Also, services offered over the internet are very difficult to access, the physical location of servers and software and security audit is hard to undertake. Also, there is a risk of data loss owing to improper backup and systems failure.
• Dependence on outside agencies: It is virtually difficult to have any control on the maintenance levels and the frequency since cloud services is being offered by third party services over the internet. Also it is tough to access the contingency procedures of the service provider in regard to backup, updates, restore and disaster recovery. Another issue is the migration to other service provider, if the uniform standards are not followed by the host.

Conclusion

In conclusion it can be said that cloud computing technology provides libraries an opportunity to improve their services and relevance in today’s information society. It can bring several benefits for libraries and give them a different future. It helps libraries to deliver its resources, services and expertise at the point of need, within user workflows and in a manner that users want and understand. It should free libraries from managing technology so they can focus on collection building, improved services and innovation. The cloud computing model will encourage libraries and their users to participate in a network and community of libraries by enabling them to reuse information and socialize around information. It can also create a powerful, unified presence for libraries on the web and give users a local, group and global.

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