Week 6: Cloud Based ILS

Week 6: Feb. 16-22

This week's topic was on the Cloud Based ILS (Integrated Library Systems).This is a somewhat comlex topic that discusses technological advancements with regards to ILS. I realize that the ILS forms the core part of library operations and when it goes down it can render libraries almost helpless. I have endured a number of ILS outages and it is not fun.

It appears that there is a shift towards cloud based ILS, and that gives libraries less to worry about as they do not have to worry about housing servers and server maintenance, but that also leaves them at the mercy of the ILS vendors who most likely will be responsible for routine updates and maintaining the remote servers.

This is a two sided issue with some advantages and disadvantages, I think libraries can benefit from a cloud based ILS, and there can also be detrimental downsides such as patron privacy and security of confidential data stored in remote servers.

This is one of those topics where I cannot completely grasp but I know that ILS's are essential for libraries to operate and so each library has the option to evaluate various ILS's and choose one that fits their needs.
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