RSS

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RSS Libraries

• Presented by Rachel Vacek,
• Electronic Resources Librarian
• Walker Management Library
• Vanderbilt University
• July 14, 2005

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Overview

• What is RSS?
• How does it work?
• How can you use it?
• Why is it important to libraries?
• How are libraries and database vendors using RSS?
• How could the Vanderbilt Libraries use RSS?
• Current implementations and future possibilities

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What is RSS?

• RSS is a text-based format, a type of XML
• Its information repackaged by provider or
  creator to give the user more control over
  delivery
• Frequently updated
• Each item often contains a title, summary, and a
  link to a URL
• Other information, such as the date, creators
  name, etc., may also be available
• Most common uses for RSS
• News and updates
• Reverse-chronologically ordered websites like
  blogs

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Confusing Terminology Simplified

• RSS Really Simple Syndication Rich Site
  Summary RDF Site Summary who cares?
• RSS file RSS feed RSS channel feed
  channel
• Atom a format similar to RSS like RSS, the
  files may also be called feeds or channels
• RSS reader news reader RSS aggregator a
  program that can read RSS files

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More Confusing Terms Simplified

• XML eXtensible Markup Language the format RSS
  is written in important only because RSS may be
  labeled as XML
• RDF Resource Discovery Framework the format
  of RSS version 1.0 important only because RSS
  may be labeled as RDF
• My website is syndicated my website produces an
  RSS feed
• blog weblog log on the web a journal-type
  website, many of which produce RSS feeds

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How do you know if a site has feeds?

• Places to check on the site
• Look for links on the homepage top, margins,
  bottom
• Does the site have a news/press release section?
• Check out the sitemap or do a site search

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Or look for these
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An example of a site with RSS

• The New York Times provides many RSS feeds
• http//www.nytimes.com/services/xml/rss/index.html
  
• And here is an example of what the code looks
  like
• http//www.nytimes.com/services/xml/rss/nyt/HomePa
  ge.xml

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What is the difference getting email and
getting a feed?
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You seeking out your information

• Information
• Blogs
• News Sites
• Databases

You
Checking for Updates
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You getting email updates

• Information
• Blogs
• News Sites
• Databases

You
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You getting an RSS feed
Reader pings site (feed) for updates

• Information
• Blogs
• News Sites
• Databases

RSS READER
You
Reader translates XML into readable format for
user titles, authors, dates, content, link back
to original source
New content (since last check) pulled into reader
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How do I find an RSS feed?

• RSS Compendium (http//allrss.com/)
• RSS Directories FeedLists
• NewsIsFree
• Syndic8
• Nooked
• RSS Search Engines
• Feedster
• Google

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Popular library-related feeds

• First, start here LISFeeds
• http//www.lisfeeds.com/
• There are too many to list all here.
• Popular sites that offer feeds
• LJ Tech Blog
• Cites Insights
• Librarians Index to the Internet
• Library Juice
• Librarian.net
• Library Stuff
• LIS News
• Tame the Web
• Free Range Librarian

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What type of reader do you want?

• There are MANY types of questions to consider
• Do you want a web-based reader that you can
  access from anywhere, or a desktop reader that
  offers more features and customizations?
• Do you want to view RSS in your email client?
• Are you interested in receiving your feeds
  through your browser as bookmarks?
• Do you want your feed scrolling across the status
  bar of your browser?
• Do you want a program running on your desktop
  with live feeds that you can access easily?
• Do you want to access your feeds from multiple
  computers in different places?
• Do you want your screen saver to have live feeds?
  (I swear this exists!)

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Which to choose?

• Desktop Based
• More choices
• More features-rich
• Free ? very cheap

• Web Based
• Accessible from any computer
• Fewer choices
• Free

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Desktop-based Readers

• Amphetadesk (Unix/Linux?, Mac, PC)
• Awasu (PC)
• FeedDemon (PC)
• FeedReader (PC)
• NetNewsWire (Mac)
• Newsgator - RSS reader for Microsoft Outlook (PC)
• NewzCrawler (PC)
• SharpReader (PC)
• Shrook (Mac)
• Syndirella (PC)
• VoxLite (PC)
• Wildgrape NewsDesk (PC)
• Pluck (PC)

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Web-based Readers

• BlogLines
• Pluck Web Edition
• BlogChatter
• Newsgator Online
• MyWireService
• Feeds on Feeds
• Hyperdig
• MyYahoo!

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Summary of getting started with RSS

• YOU
• Subscribe to the feeds you want to monitor
• Read the new content at your leisure
• USE THE INFORMATION share, apply
• Group feeds into categories, unsubscribe, etc.
• THE RSS READER
• Checks for updates
• Highlights new content
• Converts XML to user-readable content
• Saves you time

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What does all this mean for you?

• Stay more current on advances and changes in our
  profession
• More services and resources for users
• Journal TOC alerts
• Nature
• Database search alerts
• Factiva currently has RSS feeds
• In Fall 2005, Proquest is aiming to have search
  feeds for their DBs, including Dissertation
  Abstracts
• Learning Object Collection feeds
• Government feeds
• http//firstgov.gov/Topics/Reference_Shelf/Librari
  es/RSS_Library.shtml

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Feeds for Information Distribution
Examples of library-generated feeds for enhancing
creating services
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RSS for Library News
See also UNC, McMaster Univ., Univ. Oklahoma,
Minneapolis Public Library
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RSS for Book Listings

• University Kent
• http//library.kent.ac.uk/library/newbooks/rss.sht
  ml
• University of Alberta
• http//www.library.ualberta.ca/newbooks/index.cfm

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RSS for Journal TOC

• The University of Saskatchewan library is now
  incorporating RSS feeds for those journals in
  their e-journal database.
• http//library.usask.ca/ejournals
• So far, they have listed titles from Institute of
  Physics, BioMed Central, Nature, and Extenza
• They will be adding over 700 feeds for titles
  available via the new ingentaconnect.com service

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Feeds Abound in Libraries

• Feeds for individual campus libraries, libraries
  in consortium, and by LC
• Feeds are often pulled directly from an OPAC
• University of Louisville
• http//www.library.louisville.edu/users/mopurc01/r
  ss/index.asp
• Rochester Institute of Technology
• http//wally.rit.edu/feeds/
• Case Western Reserve University
• http//library.case.edu/ksl/rss/

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RSS _at_ Vanderbilt

• ITS RSS Feed
• http//its.vanderbilt.edu/rss/
• VU Mix Feed
• LITS Wiki Feed
• Proposal to LMC for a Jean Alexander Heard
  Library News Feed (not approved yet)
• New books? Services? News in general?

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Referenced Works and Helpful Articles

• RSS for Non-techie Librarians
• http//www.llrx.com/features/rssforlibrarians.htm
• What Are Webfeeds (RSS), and Why Should You Care?
• http//blog.contentious.com/archives/2003/10/18/wh
  at-are-webfeeds-rss-and-why-should-you-care
• RSS Feeds into Blackboard
• http//jade.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/alan/archives/0
  00031.html
• RSS and Webfeeds A Field Guide for Librarians
• http//scilib.ucsd.edu/corechem/RSS-and-Webfeeds-M
  ay2005.ppt
• All About RSS
• http//www.faganfinder.com/search/rss.shtml
• UBCWiki TheFuss
• http//careo.elearning.ubc.ca/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?TheF
  uss
• Wall Street Journal - Info about RSS Feeds
• http//online.wsj.com/public/page/0,,0_0813,00.htm
  l

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Thank you!Questions?