wiki… and the difference between wiki and google docs is..?

so google docs can be a type of wiki, right?

so just like I like google docs, I like wikis – we’re doing the summer quiz using PBWorks this year, rather than relying on a scibbled mess of answers in the staff room. So more part-time staff can contribute to the easier answers, rather than just finding that there’s only the hard ones left at the end of the week. (aren’t we nice??)

We’re using PBworks for camlibtm – another thing, another chance to plug the exciting event that’s happening on 27th September – haven’t you heard about it??

It’s all happening in PBworks, but I’m sure there are plenty of other resources we could use.

As I mentioned for google docs thing, we’re planning on using wikis to update and maintain our staff manual, and if camtools does the job (thanks celine!) then we might use this tool rather than an outside commercial one.

whichever tool I use it’s great not to have to clog inboxes up with word docs which might already be out of date.

Plus the thing that is most amazing now is how Wikipedia – the original shining example of a wiki – has now turned into a really very reliable source. Pinches of salt still need to be on hand – just like with all information – but it’s evolved from being a Very Bad Thing to being a Useful Place to Start if you’re entirely new to a topic. A great example of how the internet is self-regulating.

so yes, wikis are a Good Thing.

google docs

I do like google docs – if there’s collaborative work going on (like we’ve been doing with camlibtm) it just seems so sensible to work on the most current version of the document, rather than each of us making changes which then have to be almalgamated.

I’ve used google docs to write articles collaboratively, share documents without having to load emails with massive attachments, and to avoid having to carry around a memory stick when I’m working at different computers. Means I can work on things at home (erm, why is that a good thing?) and it also lets me convert documents to PDFs (lovely!).

I’ve tried to use the forms in the past, and while lovely in theory, the range of options for type of questions didn’t really suit me, so I went back to SurveyMonkey (I’ve access to a souped-up subscription version, so while it’s not free, the extra functionality does provide value for money)

It’s not all sweetness and light – it does feel al little clunky at times, and there’s not a straight conversion to/from MS Office formats. And of course you’re a slave to being online (as we discovered the other night – meeting to discuss camlibtm in CB2 when internet access ground to a halt my note-taking in google docs did too – so back to slate and chalk).

For our staff manual we’re thinking of using either wikis or google docs to maintain accurate and up to date documentation for the library, but it’s tricky having to rely on a third party to host internal information. Wouldn’t it be nice if Cambridge University (CARET??) could provide a service which would mean that we wouldn’t be at the mercy of putting our information in someone else’s hands (we do enough of it already).

so nice google docs, I like you!