Share and share alike :)

Hands up who sees this on a distressingly regular basis in their library?

1. Patron brings memory stick to use public access computer but stick is somehow incompatible with computer and it won't work, so he storms out, fuming...
2. Patron brings memory stick to use public access computer but has brought wrong file on stick so he storms out, fuming...
3. Patron brings memory stick to use public access computer but creates a file so large it won't fit on memory stick so he can't take it home, so he storms out, fuming...

I could go on...

1. A collaborator you are working with sends you an updated draft of a document, so you save it on your computer only to discover it has the same file name as YOUR copy and you've just saved over your own copy...*grrr!*
2. You submit a collaborative final report to your boss only to find you've submitted the wrong file because you've lost track of the real one amongst all the drafts you've been inundated with...*blush!*
3. You are sharing a document with colleagues and going colour-blind from all the Track Changes and Comments added by your co-workers...*sigh!*

While email has certainly revolutionised our ability to share and collaborate on documents, and portable memory devices allow us to transfer our work simply (usually) between workstations or users, these methods can quickly become cumbersome (or worse). If only there were a central repository where collaborators could keep ONE copy of a file with ALL the latest changes...!

Google Docs (http://docs.google.com/) and Writeboard (www.writeboard.com) present just this opportunity. These online repositories allow you to upload documents, invite collaborators to view and edit them, and exchange them freely amongst your colleagues and friends without ever having to save or rename or update a copy on your own computer! And it has some fantastic bonuses: it's free, it needs no specialist software, you can use it from any web-enabled PC in the world, it's private, and it gives you HEAPS of storage!

The implications for libraries of these services are exciting. Our library operates as part of the Riverina Regional Library network, who are scattered over a geographical area half the size of Victoria. Sharing documents, slides, presentations, pictures and reports suddenly becomes so possible when we can all access a single web link. No more documents lost in email! We can encourage and train patrons to use these services to eliminate the need for memory sticks (so often lost or left behind) and expensive printing.

These free services are just some of many available on the net to streamline both our work practices and our budgets (important in the case of a small library such as ours at Talbingo, which operates on an annual budget of less than $5000). Here's some further examples of cool free stuff:

• 
  http://www.zamzar.com/ - free file conversion software
• 
  www.omnidrive.com - free storage to back up your files and virus protection
• 
  http://www.senduit.com/ - transfer big files over the web and stop clogging up your inbox!
• 
  http://doodle.com/ - schedule meetings and events over the web
• 
  http://www.picnik.com/ - edit your photos for free - byebye Photoshop!