Cloud Computing: A Play for Vital Role in Libraries

Cloud computing is a new breed of service offered over the Internet, which has completely changed the way one can use the power of computers irrespective of geographic location. It has brought in new avenues for organisations and businesses to offer services using hardware or software or platform of third party sources, thus saving on cost and maintenance. This paper is mainly highlights for history, what is cloud computing?, why cloud computing?, characteristics & features, types, deployment models & components, six attributes, seven ways to get started with cloud computing, properties, initiatives, applications in libraries, beyond library discovery services, service providers of cloud computing for libraries, role, advantages, disadvantages, benefits & issues of cloud computing, standardisation, research trends, cloud computing in India, examples of cloud libraries, cloud computing is the wave of the future.