Online Docs: Collaborative Document Editing on ALA Connect

One in a series of introductory screencasts created by the ALA Emerging Leaders Group I FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://connect.ala.orgYou and your group members can now collaborate on and keep track of your ALA work all in the same spot with ALA Connect's Online Docs!

September 15, 2009



One in a series of introductory screencasts created by the ALA Emerging Leaders Group I
FOR MORE INFORMATION: http://connect.ala.org

You and your group members can now collaborate on and keep track of your ALA work all in the same spot with ALA Connect’s Online Docs!

From the ALA Connect page for any group or community with which you’re affiliated, just visit the Online Docs section on the right sidebar. Follow the Add link to start a new document or follow the Online Docs link to visit documents already created.

Why should you use Connect’s Online Docs? Here’s what you need to know…

Reason #1: Online Docs are just like Word documents, except they’re housed online in ALA Connect and therefore easily accessible from anywhere. Use the Edit tab to make changes. Standard text editing options are available, plus options to hyperlink text or embed videos. Instead of emailing your colleagues a new attachment whenever you make a revision, like with Word documents, all your changes are managed online right in ALA Connect. No more aggravation trying to figure out who has which version of your shared document.

Reason #2: Online Docs offers collaborative options, allowing you and your colleagues to work on the same document online. Instead of inviting your group members into your new document, like with Google Docs, Online Docs already knows which ALA members are in your section, committee, or community. Use the Members link on the right sidebar to see who belongs to your group. All members of the group can see and edit the documents by default. You can make the document available to people outside your group and even to non-ALA members, too, to reach a wider audience. Select the Public option in the Audience section.

Reason #3: Online Docs tracks changes for you! With multiple people working on the same document, you may want to revisit a previous version. Use the Revisions tab. All edits are tracked, so a history of the different versions of your document is maintained in ALA Connect. You can always check earlier versions for changes you may want to reinstate.

ALA Connect will manage your Online Docs, alongside your calendar, other messages, posts, and more. You can log in anytime to make changes.

For more information about ALA Connect, visit the Help community, always available at the top of the screen, or use the Contact Us form if you have questions.

Music: Open Gates by Crepusculum, available at www.archive.org.

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