As a new doctoral student, I have recently been giving some consideration to how I will store documents, articles, and other electronic information. Central to my consideration are the issues of cost and longevity, and I’m certainly looking for an option that will allow me to access my information anywhere I can connect to the internet. I am hopeful that I can find a solution that I can stick with- potentially for the remainder of my career, though if that is not feasible at least for the next decade (hopefully well beyond the completion of my degree). Naturally when considering a long-term subscription or service, cost becomes an important variable.
If I were a student at the ‘other’ UNC, at least if I were in the Library Science program, this would be a non-issue. The University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill is offering new students to the Information and Library Science program free online storage, which is said to be available to the students- at no cost- for a lifetime. Lifetime Library, which was piloted last fall and formally launched this semester, offers incoming UNC Information and Library Science students 250GB of free online “cloud” storage for the student’s lifetime.
Although free online storage options are currently available, there are typically limitations on the amount of data that can be stored at no-cost. One popular option, Dropbox, offers up to 2GB for free—but an upgrade to 50GB of storage will cost you $9.99/month and $19.99/month for 100GB of space. A PhD student, particularly in a field focused on information storage and retrieval, would likely need to purchase the paid version. Over a career, this could easily amount to close to $10,000 of data storage costs—and that assumes the cost of the service does not increase. Considering that UNC’s Lifetime Library is offering more than double the space of even the larger Dropbox option, this becomes a pretty valuable perk of studying Information and Library Science at UNC.
So what is the rationale behind UNC’s decision to offer this lifetime service to new Library Science students? What is the primary objective of offering it at no cost? The initial work on the project was funded, in part, by the National Science Foundation, and was developed by a group of researchers at UNC organized as the institution’s Data Intensive Cyber Environment group. Surely this was an exciting project for the developers (including student developers) to tackle. But now that the system is fully developed, what is the benefit to the institution providing this as a free service to students? Is it intended to be a marketing technique to attract more students to the program? This seems unlikely, given the prestige of the UNC Library/Information Science program. That said, the UNC Library/Information Science news release on the program does sound an awful lot like a marketing tactic, referring to Lifetime Library as “the gift of digital storage throughout your lifetime.” Another likely factor is the opportunity to keep the future researchers and scholars permanently connected to the institution, perhaps even with a sense of indebtedness to the institution for providing this service long after they have completed their studies at UNC. Or, might the Foundation or the Office of Development/Advancement have ideas of their own? Perhaps they will embed advertisements or pleas for financial support into the program? Or are there pedagogical elements to the lifelong connectivity and associated relationship with alumni? In addition to the user’s private space, the system will include public storage space where video streams and social media dialogue can occur. If their relationship to the University remains strong through as a result of the data storage, alumni may be apt to engage with current students through the system using video presentations and discussions or future innovations in electronic communication.
One area that was mostly absent from the institution’s communication regarding this ‘gift’ to students is an explanation of how intellectual property and privacy rights are determined within the realm of Lifetime Library. When the student is in fact a student, let us assume that the institution’s policies in these areas dictate the scope of various policies. What is less clear is how privacy and intellectual privacy policies and rights may shift once the student is no longer enrolled, but uses the Lifetime Library for their personal or professional storage. Communication from the institution vaguely references the “Terms of Service Agreement” for using university computing resources, but policies pertaining to university computing resources do not explicitly include alumni use or the other issues that Lifetime Library raises for UNC.
Despite these areas that need to be considered and communicated to users, I am impressed. Hopefully free lifetime data storage for students is indeed a current issue in higher education that will catch on across the country. In the meantime, I am off to sign up for a Dropbox account…
I have to say I am intrigued by lifetime storage. When began to read your blog I thought, finally a potential way to store information where I can access items when I need them! Excellent, no more carrying around of the 4 flash drives I currently keep with me!
ReplyDeleteThen of course I realized I am not at the other UNC but also I thought access anytime? anywhere? why? I felt myself thinking I was all of a sudden "old school". I do not need access to my files anytime and anywhere.
Yet, I do see value in a web base application where you do not have to worry about computers crashing or files being lost when your computer reaches its end. I also realize that for some folks having that level of access is key. Although, it brings me back to one of your thoughts...what is the outcome desired with this new lifetime storage?
Is it to keep alumni connected? Will it be embedded with marketing? I have to say that I believe these two points are viable and I actually support the idea of keeping alumni connected via a web based application like lifetime storage. However, what concerns me is the funding. In your article link it mentions that the funding currently is by a grant and that the creators are seeking possible partnership to keep the project moving forward (my understanding). If this is true then my concern lies with lifetime storage being a part of a business deal or contract. Will new partnerships that continue funding seek to have access to alumni listserv and information? Would there be a way for these partnerships to change original terms and conditions?
Even though these questions came up for I have to say I would probably go for lifetime storage over my current system...4 flash drives in my backpack...which in turn may be what potential partners are counting on.
Thanks for your helpful post, Braelin. You've already got me thinking about obtaining cloud storage service from such general providers as SugarSync, 4Shared, Dropbox, Google Docs, Box.Net, Microsoft Live Mesh, and Windows Life Skydrive (for Mac Users, there is Dolly Drive- an online storage system for the Apple Time Machine). If you just go to google and type in "free cloud storage", a number of informative links pop up.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, you don't have to have access to the Lifetime Library Cloud Storage service offered by the University of North Carolina, in order to obtain free storage service. Just about all of the providers listed in the paragraph above and many of their competitors offer 1-2 GB or more of free lifetime storage service, and for few bucks a month or more you can purchase more substantial storage capabilities. Some providers offer more features than others; some offer synchronized files on multiple computers, synchronization via email, real-time upload of your file edits and changes, live streaming music, etc., and some don't.
For those that don't really know about 'cloud computing'technology, it is basically analogous to switching from landline phone service to digitized and mobile satellite phone service. Computer software and filing systems (e.g. discs, flashdrives, etc.) that used to have to be installed/downloaded/plugged into your computer can now be directly accessed via just about any connected computer via an internet browser.
Privacy and security issues are definitely a concern when storing your files into a computerized 'cloud', but it is still possible, on the other hand, for gifted and diligent hackers/NSA government types and so forth, to access documents stored in your own computer. Security is always an issue with any kind of computer usage. Another concern regarding cloud storage usage is which provider you end up using. What are the odds they will remain in business? What are their security and proprietary file storage contractual rules and regulations? How long have they been in business? These kinds of questions can usually be answered by simply visiting each website and reading the fine print, as it were. Happy researching.
My first thought is if I were a student I would totally take advantage of this - I'd have every season of Seinfeld uploaded to the server so I have them available at all times! But seriously, I wonder if UNC plans to monitor what types of files can be stored online?
ReplyDeleteIf UNC will have access to everything saved on their server, they will begin to collect an additional library of sorts. With a working search feature, administrators could have access to some interesting (and controversial) information. Also, I know that I had to sign something when I began work at CSU that anything I create while at CSU is owned by CSU. Does UNC now own the rights to everything that is stored on their server?
One last thought. I doubt UNC will use this as a tool to say, "hey, we see you've logged in, please give us money!" I bet they do know that when alumni use their website, it subtly creates positive feelings towards their alma mater, which in turn can produce giving, positive press, or support.
I'm all for going paperless and online cloud drives make that substantially easier. I even keep all of my music online through Amazon Mp3. (it's a could drive with a player that does the same things as dropbox- only for music. I have unlimited storage for buy 1 $5 album.)
ReplyDeleteBeau- you touched on this a little bit, what if the things stored on a person's Lifetime Library are illegal? This could range from music and videos to things more serious (porn, etc.) At that point what does accountability of the institution come into play? At least when a student is at an institution some monitoring and accountability might be possible, but once they graduate are there any ways for accountability?
Also, what is Bear Drive? I hear about it all the time at UNC. From the little I hear, it sounds exactly like a cloud storage drive but only for UNC faculty and staff? Maybe we do have access to a cloud drive as students (not to get everyone's expectations up.) However, I am loyal to dropbox and Google Docs because of its universal capabilities for access. (remember too, you can refer people to dropbox and when they sign up, you get more free storage!)
Reading this post made me stop and think about the need for a lifetime of information storage and what that would look like and mean for us.
ReplyDeleteDon't get me wrong, as a new doctoral student, I immediately see the value in external hard drives and cloud servers - also getting ready to sign up for DropBox. But I do wonder about the unintended consequences of having access to so much information right at your fingertips. While I'm not a social media junkie - I could easily be an information junkie - finding and storing anything I deem remotely interesting.
Seems like another way to stay connected 24/7 and now throughout your life!
Braelin thank you for your post. After a recent class discussion I have been thinking about the same thing. I do see significant value in having a service like this in order to protect myself from loosing years of research in a computer crash or some other awful event.
ReplyDeleteWhile I do hear the concerns of others about UNC's Lifetime Library and privacy concerns, I personally would not be that concerned. I would not store personal data on 3rd party storage systems. Could someone steal my research? Sure. At least for right now I am not that concerned about the possibility of this happening.
As a person who is constantly connected to the internet, work email, etc, I do feel overwhelmed about being connected 24/7. However, I believe we are all going to have to get used to it and learn to work with it. I do not see it going away any time soon and I personally appreciate some of the benefits.
Braelin you are right to question how the data stored will be used. In fact, U.S. laws have not kept pace with technology. Many times U.S. Citizens do not know how institutions like the Department of Education use our personal, private information until well after the fact, if at all.
ReplyDeleteI follow technology and privacy with the ACLU and have listed a related link below. I was suprised to learn that many other countries have "Privacy Commissioners" with the power and authority to govern privacy issues affecting citizens, but the U.S. does not.
http://www.aclu.org/technology-and-liberty/enforcing-privacy-building-american-institutions-protect-privacy-face-new-tec
We do have a cloud storage system. Bear Drive is great! All students can access it through their Windows Live (bearmail). You can download it and sync it to your computer just like Dropbox. It has 5gb of free storage. You get 10 gb of space total with skydrive. And you can connect to it anywhere you have internet.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Braelin! Cloud storage is something that I have been thinking about a lot recently. I haven't had much time to explore the various options out there to find the best benefit to cost ratio, but I do worry about the security of the information that I store. Not only am I concerned about class materials in my program, but also all of the pictures and music that I have. Our lives are really on computers these days, and the thought of a crash, and losing all of that, is terrifying.
ReplyDelete