The Big Switch by Nicholas Carr

Carr introduces the concept of computing/networking as a public utility (like water, electricity) rather than something that has to be done and supported in-house. Giving up control over one's computing infrastructure and letting it be housed and managed in disparate places throughout the world presents problematic questions of privacy and power. Libraries have always been interested in privacy for their patrons, so there is an obvious connection to the library world there. More interesting were Carr's frequent references to data-mining and how companies are using it to tailor information streaming to specific users. How will this impact searchers if they see only what they want to see and not what they need to see?