Google Docs

I'm not sure if this was mentioned in this week's Project Play post, but it's something I found particularly helpful this morning - Google Docs can be used cross platform! I'm at home this morning because my son is sick, and I was trying to get some work done. There were several things I thought I could get done, but I needed to be able to do them on my laptop so I can work near Joey -- my laptop is an Apple PowerBook, not a PC like I work on at OWLS. 

Google Docs to the rescue! I have created several g-docs this morning that I know I'll be able to access at work easily even though they were created on an Apple instead of a PC. Now that's flexible and easy! Just think - you can work on a document from multiple locations without worrying about the platform the document was originally created in. This is great when working with groups of people, too - no worries about anyone having difficulty opening or editing a document you're sharing.

Cool beans.

(I've been coughed and sneezed on multiple times this morning. If I'm not around in a few days, you'll know why!)

IMs up the wazoo

I have been having a great time responding to all of the Project Play IMs I'm getting via my meebo me widget! Fun to experience people's first attempts at using IM and seeing how easy it really is, not to mention, great to be able to help on the spot.

I've commented on a lot of your blogs, but just wanted to mention some advice I'm giving pretty consistently. Think of IM like office hours. Maybe you won't be setting specific hours you want to be available via IM, but you could. Mainly, I mean that you can make choices about when you're available for IM messages. Log in to your IM account when it's a time you won't be irritated by interruptions. If you're concentrating on a tough project that requires focused thought, stay offline and respond to messages later. IM doesn't require that you suddenly become available to everyone every time you're at your computer.

Gearing up for round 2

The Project Play instructors are gearing up for Semester 2 of Project Play! I must admit, I've kind of missed all of the excitement over the last few weeks between semesters. I've really enjoyed the process and working with all of the Project Players. So it's a good thing we're starting up again on Monday!

Just wanted to also post that Stef Morrill and I will be doing a half-day workshop at OWLS entitled "Making Choices In a Web 2.0 World" in February. Here's the plug:

All of the Web 2.0 tools available these days provide endless opportunities for projects and services your library could offer. How do you decide what you should use and what you shouldn’t? The presenters will share their ideas about making choices in a Web 2.0 world, along with tips on overcoming barriers to using these tools at your library and how to keep up-to-date without going crazy.

It'll be a good one for Project Players to attend to help put everything we've been learning in perspective, so sign up on OWLSweb and plan to attend!