Google Spreadsheets and public access computers

Submitted by Tom Boone on June 6, 2006 - 11:03pm.

Today's unveiling of Google Spreadsheets illustrates precisely why it has become pointless for libraries to cripple the functionality of their public internet computers. Just about anything that can be done with a local machines's software and hardware can now be done entirely online. This leaves little reason for librarians and IT staff to waste time uninstalling word processors, hiding spreadsheets, and disabling USB ports.

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'bout time

Submitted by Matthew Wright (not verified) on June 12, 2006 - 11:32am.

Some of us have been saying this is stupid for years.

For a truly scary "blast from the past" experience, launch the updated version of WordPerfect. One of the "new" choices is "Wordperfect 'Classic' -- 5.0 edition." Remember those blue screens. Yikes!

Also, some information sources are in formats other than pdf or html. Software is still useful in some areas and we should not deprive patrons of those information resources. I admit I'm not looking forward to learning SPSS to retrieve information, but everything I've read says SPSS is the industry standard for stats. Not that you would want something that complex on a public computer, but sometimes, in order to get the information you need, you need certain programs installed. God, I sure hope we don't ever have a public patron who needs to download SPSS studies.