The library as a hardware provider vs a software provider

Libraries have been providing technological resources for their patrons for several decades. This can end up taking a large part of the budget, as maintaining relevant hardware and software in a rapidly changing environment means constantly having to spend money on new equipment. Often libraries are criticized for not adopting new technology at the same pace as consumer electronic trends, but it should be noted that there is a financial calculation that must be considered in each new circumstance. But a fundamental change in the economics of software may provide libraries with relief when it comes to keeping up with their user's demands.

In the past, the kinds of hardware a library would provide was directly related to the software it offered to its patrons. Both purchases would be considered together, so as to maximize the benefit. For a public library, this might mean purchasing licenses to office productivity software that matched the number of public access terminals it owned. As a mainstay service with reasonable demand, it would not be prudent to limit access to this kind of software to just a portion of those terminals. But it may be OK to do so for more specialized programs like photo editing software loaded onto a computer with access to a scanner. The library would make decisions like this constantly in an attempt to get the most value out of their limited funds, while still offering the kinds of applications that their patrons needed.

Now, with the proliferation of software as a service, software has become untied from individual hardware. Rather than going to the library and waiting for a certain machine to access a specific program, the patron can use any terminal connected to the network to access it. Libraries quickly learned the benefit of shared software, and most invested in networks that would support their collection of applications. Often these would still be hosted on a server at the the library itself.

Cloud computing has taken this concept a step further, and now many of the applications that a patron uses aren't in any way owned by the library. Instead, they are just accessing a web hosted piece of software through the library computer's browser. And the major software manufacturers are reinforcing this behavior by moving away from offering their products as one time purchases. More and more companies like Microsoft and Adobe are asking for subscriptions to their software, and the ability for the purchaser to access the program from a variety of web-enabled devices.

So where does this leave libraries? Fortunately, this trend has enabled the library to simplify their technology calculation. They must still provide access to the software their patrons need, but now they may not necessarily have to purchase it themselves. Instead, the library can focus on the hardware and network capabilities, and allow the patron to determine which web-hosted application works best for their purpose. And as all these applications are generally made to work on as many devices as possible, the library can prioritize the strength of its broadband access and network over more individualized enhancements to single workstations.

Of course, this does not mean that the library is going to leave hosting software behind entirely. Not all programs are available for free on the internet, and many will still require specific hardware to use effectively. But as access to the internet becomes the primary source of software, libraries can strengthen their position as gateways to these resources for their users.