Cloud Computing in your library’s future? How to ensure a sunny outcome. ELAG, May 2011 Carl Grant, Chief Librarian

Cloud Computing

Platform neutrality… means your vendor becomes more efficient and effective too.

Reduced costs because shared costs are lower costs

Consolidate the frameworks CONSOLIDATE OPTIMIZE Optimize through collaboration EXTEND Extend the range of services Add value for library users

is also about creating communities around information from which new knowledge will emerge Collaboration

Cloud Computing is Green both hardware and Library staff get used more efficiently

Analysis Resource Usage by FundOverlap in New Purchases Request Time to Fulfillment Digital Submissions by DepartmentILL Requests Converted to Purchases Purchase Digitize Loan

What are the concerns?

Configurable? Extensive configurability is essential so librarianship can show end-users identifiable value.

OSS extensions ensure that which is common can do that which is uncommon.

Branding Is stamping the library name on the delivered information AND the value of librarianship on the end-users mind.

Support is better because your vendor does the common and your staff does the unique

We need to work together.. while being realistic in our expectations.

ill-informed legislation (about cloud computing in libraries) will result in ill-informed citizens.

Cloud Computing unites libraries so researchers start higher and go farther

Carl Grant Chief Librarian, Ex Libris T: M: E: W: Twitter: carl_grant Blog: