Cloud Computing and Libraries: Illusion or Opportunity?

Abstract

The expression Cloud Computing is used for referring to a variety of platforms supplying application and resources displaced into the net. Applications to libraries are many: email services; the possibility of developing new tasks without investing resources in hardware; digital resources preservation; library catalogue management, and so on. One of the strongest aspects of this system is the flexible payment (pay-as-you-go), depending on release ways and on real usage. Benefits for libraries using cloud computing concern the quality of services, and the infrastructural and management cost control, in particular regarding the digital preservation. This kind of technology can present negative aspects related to the strong dependency from internet, to data safety, and to the lack of standards and shared metrics.