Cloud-Based Computing Systems: Benefits for Future Use inLibrary and Information Science

The rapid digitization of scholarly communication, the exponential growth of born-digital collections,and the escalating demands for remote access have rendered traditional on-premise libraryinfrastructure increasingly untenable. Cloud computing has emerged as a transformative paradigmwithin Library and Information Science (LIS), promising scalable storage, cost efficiency, enhancedaccessibility, and seamless integration with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence andbig data analytics. However, the discourse surrounding cloud adoption in libraries remainsfragmented, oscillating between uncritical technological optimism and cautious apprehensionregarding data security, privacy, and organizational readiness. This paper presents a systematic reviewand critical synthesis of recent scholarly literature to examine the evidenced benefits of cloud-basedcomputing systems for future LIS practice, while simultaneously interrogating the structural,economic, and epistemological challenges that impede equitable adoption. Drawing upon empiricalstudies from diverse geographic contexts, the analysis reveals that while cloud computing offersdemonstrable advantages in operational efficiency, digital preservation, and collaborative resourcesharing, its implementation is neither universal nor inevitable. Significant barriers persist, particularlyin developing economies, where inadequate internet infrastructure, financial constraints, policyvacuums, and staff resistance create a digital divide within the global library community. The paperargues that the future of LIS lies not in the passive adoption of cloud infrastructure, but in thedevelopment of a critical cloud literacy that balances technological capability with ethicalstewardship, data sovereignty, and user-centric governance. The findings suggest that cloudcomputing should be understood as an enabling infrastructure rather than a panacea, requiringstrategic alignment with institutional missions, robust policy frameworks, and sustained investment inhuman capital. Future research must move beyond descriptive case studies toward longitudinal,evidence-based assessments of cost-benefit ratios, user experience, and the political economy of cloudservice provision in academic and public libraries.