Google Docs

Still catching up.

So I've been using Google mail for some time and have had some experience (but not much) with Google Docs based on that. I admit I haven't given it the attention it probably deserves after seeing some of the formating that others have done on our Project Play assignment. It always just seemed kind of clunky/unwieldy when I worked with it. There definitely seem to be more features than I noticed in the past. Maybe I just noticed more since they're so eerily similar to what we use when editing in Blogger. (Wonder why that is?) I think part of my problem is that my monitor is widescreen and that makes everything seem a little "off" if that makes sense. Like I'm still used to layouts existing in "portrait" format instead of "landscape."

Anyway.

I liked the possibilities that were demonstrated in the class assignments. I was really impressed with the gardening spreadsheet layout. Although that was more of a wiki with numbers. It was really well done. Excellent formatting. One of our condo association members recently set up a mailing list for all our members using Google groups and I'd like to start using the documents feature for treasurers reports and spreadsheets. (I'm the treasurer-- God help us.) I'm going to have to spend more time figuring out the formating that was used on our spreadsheet assignment. I definitely see some possibilities there.

I've mentioned during our assignment on wikis that our department has lots of documentation, some of which I've already got as Microsoft Word documents. Instead of having them spread across individual hard drives with somewhat spotty records when it comes to keeping updates current (ahem. who me?) we could probably port them over to Google docs and keep everything in one place, with revisions open to everyone who accesses those particular documents. But I envision lots of set-up work involved in making such a transition though. Not something I want to tackle in addition to all the regular work.

Which, admittedly, is an extremely short-sighted way to look at it.

As for using Google Docs in the library, I'll just echo what other people have said and say that it's got some real possibilities. (Good luck training the masses, though.) We've gotten pretty used to having Microsoft Office available on most of our machines for so long that I imagine it will take us quite a while to come to the realization that we could probably live without that particular piece of software. That may be why MSFT stock hasn't gone up in years.

But, that makes speedy and reliable internet connections even more critical. And Google could quickly turn into the most hated corporation in the world-- now that Microsoft is becoming less of "the only game in town." Not that that should bother libraries. Unless Google starts charging for access. Or making their ads more intrusive. Or something even more nefarious.

But, that's a worry for another time. For the moment, Google Docs seems to be a rich, full-featured software suite that's familiar/easy, free and convenient. What's not to love?

Stay tuned.

Your comments, as always, are welcome.