When my department approached IT and the VP of Technology last fall about integrating SharePoint as a central suppository of documents, files, information, and other data, we were met with, “Our servers are too old so adding SharePoint is not an option because it will cost too much to get new servers”. I should clarify that I do not work in a library…
Our team needed some access point in which we could work out of the same documents, give version control, allow us to update and track the edits. We were having too many issues with way too many people working out of the same documents, so we were making costly mistakes.
That’s when I found a little gem called “Google Docs”. In no time at all, we had solved our issue of version control. I placed our group Excel spreadsheets in Google Docs, then invited my seven colleagues to be collaborators for the spreadsheet and invited two directors to be viewers only. We’ve only tapped the tip of the iceberg of the various Google sites, but we definitely saved our department from spending unnecessary dollars.
Check out this article on Information Today by Erik Arnold if you want to read more about the debate between Google Sites and SharePoint. Arnold summarizes the tangible value in Google Sites: “Google promotes Google Sites as ‘one stop for information sharing’ with example applications of project management, team websites, and fully hosted intranets. Google Sites integrates nicely with the other Google Apps products, which include email, calendar, documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and chat”.
marthathelibrarian1 said,
March 16, 2008 @ 3:19 pm
In one of my first classes to get my MLIS I was assigned to a group project with two people who had really crazy schedules. We managed to put together a final project using about 500 email posts.
In a later class I was introduced to Google Docs. What a difference! It was smooth and easy and we never forgot which version was the most recent and we even collaboraed on a terrific powerpoint! I have since recommended Google Docs to lots of people!
Martha
Andrew Chang (Google Docs Marketing Manager) said,
March 16, 2008 @ 5:26 pm
Cool. Glad to hear that spreadsheets in Docs has been useful to your team!
AutoSponge said,
March 17, 2008 @ 12:28 pm
Just don’t forget your real problem. “Our servers are too old…” Old servers are less efficient, so you need more of them. This multiplies heat, power, IT administration, licensing, and space issues that your company is paying for.