Blogging and RSS: Applications

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Blogging and RSS Applications Technology
Examples from an Academic Library16 June 2005
CLA Conference, Calgary

• Randy Reichardt
• Science Technology Library
• University of Alberta
• randy.reichardt_at_ualberta.ca
• http//stlq.info

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Example 1 Student Blogging

• Mechanical, Chemical, Materials engineering
  design students, working in groups of four on
  capstone design projects
• Issue team members live in different areas of
  the city, not always on campus difficult to
  schedule meetings to discuss project
• Result e-mails, text messaging, phone calls,
  instant messaging, etc difficult to manage the
  design project
• Solution try using a blog for project mgmt
• Minor Glitch no campus-wide support as yet for
  blogs at U Alberta needed to create tip sheet
  for students

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Example 2 Library Blogging

• Blogs provide an option for team members to
  communicate, and for content management,
  including document storage, link listing, etc.
• University of Alberta Libraries now using blogs
  for different applications, including library
  news, vendor announcements, Knowledge Common
  staff updates, information/reference desk
  updates, team management
• Support Library tech staff loaded blogging
  software onto library LAN

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Example 3 RSS in Db Searching

• Service Engineering Village 2, which offers
  access to the Compendex db, which provides
  extensive coverage of all engineering
  disciplines, (available online from 1884-present)
• also offers access to Inspec, NTIS
• Issue Researchers need to know latest
  developments in their fields options include
  e-mail alerts, running regular searchs, etc
• New option EV2 offers RSS feeds

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Too many results - 17,774 records!
Restrict Search to Compendex
Add actuators to search
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1,322 records found
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This URL represents the RSS feed for the search,
microelectromechanical devices and actuators,
restricted to the Compendex db
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Citation

• Reichardt, Randy and Geoff Harder. 2005.
  Weblogs Their Use and Application in Science
  and Technology Libraries. Science Technology
  Libraries, 25(3) 105-116.

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Presentation available atwww.ualberta.ca/scie
nce3/clablog.ppt