Cloud Readiness among Library Professionals in Maharashtra: A Weighted Awareness Index and Machine Learning Assessment of Cloud-Based Library Management Systems in Public Libraries

Abstract

Cloud computing has become a central element of digital transformation in libraries, supporting remote access and reduced dependence on local servers. Public libraries in India are only beginning to adopt such systems, and little is known about the readiness of their professionals. Limited budgets, uneven internet connectivity, shortage of trained staff and weak planning make the move from manual or standalone systems to cloud platforms difficult. Evidence from Maharashtra, where about 11,150 public libraries operate, is especially scarce. A structured questionnaire of 56 questions was administered to 144 library professionals working in public libraries of Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Raigad, the four districts selected from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Forty-three five-point Likert items were grouped into eight readiness dimensions covering implementation, infrastructure and budget, challenges, administrative planning, user engagement, service diversity, training and sustainability. Responses were coded and tabulated in SPSS for profiling and index construction. A Weighted Awareness Index algorithm assigns Likert weights of one to five, reverses negatively worded items and normalises scores to a scale of zero to 100 before classifying readiness as low, moderate or high. A Random Forest classifier, validated through stratified ten-fold cross-validation, is specified as the machine learning component for predicting readiness bands from respondent-level data. Only 11.8 percent of the libraries were automated and 60.4 percent reported no cloud-based library management system. The overall Weighted Awareness Index was 56.8, indicating moderate readiness, with challenges and outcomes scoring highest at 64.3 and service diversity lowest at 51.5. Internet speed and the absence of dedicated IT technicians were the weakest enablers, although 56.9 percent of respondents considered cloud-based systems sustainable in the long term. Public libraries in the region show clear willingness towards cloud adoption but lack the infrastructure, trained manpower and financial planning that it requires. Targeted training, connectivity upgrades and planned budgeting can raise readiness.