1. Wikis and online collaboration tools both allow for multiple people or parties to collaborate. What would be some reasons to collaborate on Google Docs, Zoho, or OpenOffice rather than a wiki?
Google Docs worked well for my son and daughter-in-law to compile their wedding guest list. They sent the list to the few of us who would have addresses, we filled in what we could, and sent the updated document back to them. Since only a few people were involved and not everyone needed all the information, the email format of Google Docs worked well.
Zoho provides more comprehensive service for document creation. It would take time to surf around Zoho and discover all they make available, but from a preliminary tour through the site, it looks like a wonderful source for creating a more formal document than, for example, a wedding guest list. It would be helpful for a project where everyone involved would need to read all the entries. By-laws updating is a particularly grueling process which could be made less painful by using Zoho as opposed to a series of long and boring meetings.
Google Docs worked well for my son and daughter-in-law to compile their wedding guest list. They sent the list to the few of us who would have addresses, we filled in what we could, and sent the updated document back to them. Since only a few people were involved and not everyone needed all the information, the email format of Google Docs worked well.
Zoho provides more comprehensive service for document creation. It would take time to surf around Zoho and discover all they make available, but from a preliminary tour through the site, it looks like a wonderful source for creating a more formal document than, for example, a wedding guest list. It would be helpful for a project where everyone involved would need to read all the entries. By-laws updating is a particularly grueling process which could be made less painful by using Zoho as opposed to a series of long and boring meetings.
I would not use OpenOffice because the software must be downloaded and, besides the process driving me crazy, the program would not be usable on a public computer in a library where a traveling businessperson would be likely to need it.
2. Describe the benefits for libraries in using these applications.
Our local public library is under the governance of a county-sponsored Public Library Board. This type of board or a "friends of the library" group could use Zoho to update their by-laws, incorporation documents, and other items.
Google docs would be a quick and effective way for a library homework tutor to help a student who is homebound, lives in a rural area, or is without transportation before an important assignment is due. The student could send the uncompleted assignment to the HW tutor attached to an email with specific questions. The tutor could add suggestions into the document and email it back.
If all necessary software were already included on a library staff's computers, OpenOffice could be used to develop reading lists, collection development procedures, or any number of other collaborative projects.
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