Content area
Full Text
This paper consists of four major sections: The first section is a literature review of cloud computing and a cost model. The next section focuses on detailed overviews of cloud computing and its levels of services: SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS. Major cloud computing providers are introduced, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google App Engine. Finally, case studies of implementing web applications on IaaS and PaaS using AWS, Linode and Google AppEngine are demonstrated. Justifications of running on an IaaS provider (AWS) and running on a PaaS provider (Google AppEngine) are described. The last section discusses costs and technology analysis comparing cloud computing with local managed storage and servers. The total costs of ownership (TCO) of an AWS small instance are significantly lower, but the TCO of a typical 10TB space in Amazon S3 are significantly higher. Since Amazon offers lower storage pricing for huge amounts of data, the TCO might be lower. Readers should do their own analysis on the TCOs.
A 2009 study from Ithaka suggested that faculty perceive three traditional functions of a library: (1) gateway, the library as a starting point for locating information for research; (2) buyer, the library as a purchaser of resources; and (3) archive, the library as a repository of resources. The 2009 survey indicates a gradual decline in their perception of the importance of "gateway," no change in "archive," growth in "buyer," and increased importance for two new roles: "teaching support" and "research support."1 To meet customers' needs in these roles, libraries are innovating services, including catalogs and home websites (as "gateway" services), repository and digital library programs (as "archive," "teaching support," and "research support" services), and interlibrary loan (as a "buyer" and "research support" services).
These services rely on stable and effective IT infrastructure to operate. In the past, the growing needs of these web applications increased IT expenditures and work complexity. More web applications, more storage, and more IT support staff are weave d into centralized on-site IT infrastructure along with huge investments in physical servers, networks, and buildings. However, decreasing budgets in libraries have had huge impact on all aspects of library operations and staffing. Web applications running on local, managed servers might not be effective in technology nor efficient...