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1. Introduction
Cloud computing is one of the new technologies that have emerged in the recent years and adopted by many organizations. According to Han (2015), cloud computing is one of the greatest achievements in the field of technology. Cloud computing allows sharing applications among users; therefore, it can facilitate the sharing process of data, information, knowledge and services. As such, there is no need for organizations to be acquainted with all types of new hardware and software, spending a chunk of their financial resources on hiring new employees and keeping databases up to date. Hence, they should pay the costs of calculations, operations and resources (Knorr and Gruman, 2008). Accordingly, cost reduction, shared services and equipment, accelerated services, less need for support, and so on are considered as the benefits of cloud computing, which has urged organizations to consider this technology as an alternative.
Libraries and information centers are seen as the organizations that can hugely benefit from this technology. Currently, a large portion of the operations and services provided by libraries are based on information technologies such as information networks and the Internet. Cloud computing can also be used to provide enhanced services in university libraries. Cloud computing has the potential to remarkably enhance library staff's productivity and can radically reengineer and regenerate library operations that support the rendering of effective information services (Salam and Ali, 2020).
According to Scale (2009), cloud computing can be used in different sections of libraries, including the development of digital libraries and wikis, collaborative websites development, collaborative web documents and search engines. Goldner (2010) posits that reduced information management costs as well as increased availability and visibility of resources and information are the main advantage that cloud computing can provide in libraries.
Certainly, future libraries will have no choice but to adopt cloud computing and prepare for its application and potential challenges (Han, 2015). Breeding (2011) believes that existing technologies have generally impacted the form and type of services offered at libraries, and there is a close relationship between the provided services and the status of libraries and modern technologies. Accordingly, cloud computing technology undoubtedly urges libraries to adopt this technology. Currently, approximately half of the libraries of the top universities in the world utilize cloud computing,...