CIL2012: From Ground to Cloud

Marshall Breeding (@mbreeding)

Cloud computing characteristics

• Web-base interface
• Externally hosted
• Pricing model is different
• Highly abstracted computing model
• Provisioned on demand
• Scaled according to variable needs
• Elastic

A bit of history

• Mainframe computing 
• Client/Server
• Cloud computing

BTW some technologists seem cloud computing to be a "new" iteration of mainframe computing.

2009 - Cloud computing was at the peak of its hype cycle
2011 - Cloud computing is more mainstream 

Local computing is shifting to cloud computing.
Visualization is a big part of cloud computing.

Infrastructure-as-a-service

• Provisioning of equipment
• Servers, storage
• Virtual server provisioning
• Lots of examples including Amazon

Storage-as-a-service (e.g., DropBox.com)

• Often used as one of the storage devices that a person uses

Software-as-a-service (SaaS)

• This is what we're all familiar with (e.g., Google Docs)
• Multi-tenant

Some organizations will put legacy software in the cloud (ASP - Application Service Provider)
May the first step toward SaaS.

Data-as-a-service

• For example a database of MARC records
• This is happening in all kinds of library environments

Platform-as-a-service

• Visualized computing environment for deployment of software
• Application Engine, no specific server provisioning
• E.g., Google App engine

There have been many ILS products offered as SaaS...mostly as ASP
Some library software is indeed multi-tenant SaaS (e.g., 360 Search)

Repositories in the cloud

Caveats and Concerns

• Available bandwidth
• Quality of service agreements
• Configurability and customizable limitations
• Access to APIs
• Cost implications
• Privacy of data
• Ownership of data
• Security
• Data preservation

Richard Hulser  (@cybrarianviews)

Wasp Speed to the Cloud: ILS Case Study

Using technology as a catalyst for change and collaboration
Going through major physical and programmatic changes
For his first 18 months, the library was closed and so he functions as a "librarian by walking around."
Focusing on services plus collection management.
Still has a physical card catalogue. Moving to an ILS.
Size of collection and breadth of collection demands that it should be an ILS, not paper records.

Before he got there, there library had been closed for nearly three years.  The library was closed and covered in plastics.  Departments were housing their own collections.
Now using interns and volunteers.
Very little IT support.

Looked at cloud vs. local - wants

• Functionality
• Affordable
• Minimal IT support
• Flexible, easy desktop access

The ILS is a catalyst for change
Allows the library to know what is in the sectional libraries.  They don't manage the sectional collections.  Just want to know what the institution has access to.

Richard has truly thought about how he can work with the entire organization and what the library needs are, and what the organization's needs are.

Expanded services: Digital Library Creation
A department came to him because they realized that he knew what he was doing and could help them.
ASP -> SaaS
Have licensed CONTENTdm.  Are looking at KnowledgeBuilder as a possible alternative.
EOS Digital Web as a launch platform.
Museum Next -> Library Next (tying his work into the vision for the entire museum)

OCLC - WorldShare and WorldCat