#7 RSS and libraries

What is the value of RSS for libraries? RSS is way of communicating changes in website content. Email alerts/subscription is another way of doing it electronically. Often the two methods would both be offered where appropriate. There are a few places on the website where libraries have been using newsfeeds:

• Library blogs - Rodney Libraries Blog
  
• Newly acquired titles - Manukau Public Libraries New Books
  
• Newsletters - Christchurch Libraries RSS page
  
• Updated subject content -Kansas City Public Library subject guides
  
• Book reviews - Greene County Public Library book reviews
  
• Book lists - newly added or revised - Hennepin County Library readers' lists
  
• Events - Auckland City Libraries
  
• Tutorials - Virginia Commonwealth University tutorial feeds
  
• Media releases - National Library of New Zealand media releases
  
• Suggestions - The University of Auckland Library

I will add to the list as I come across more examples.

#7 Searching for feeds (2)

I looked at each of the search engines listed. There wasn't anything in terms of news topics that I wanted to subscribe to when I browsed Topix and Syndic8. With Technorati I found lots of interesting blogs that tempted me to subscribe! (I have bookmarked instead.) Google Blog Search is easy to use as well as Google News. Perhaps it is because Google is familiar, but also it is less cluttered and thus easier to find useful information.

Another easy way to find and subscribe to websites is to use the latest versions of your browser. I use Firefox and the subscription icon appears in the URL address text box if the webpage has feed subscription options listed. You just click on the icon and it gives the option to select your newsreader - quick and easy. Internet Explorer 7 has a similar feature. The rss icon is next to the 'home' icon on the toolbar. (Both Firefox and Internet Explorer 7 can be freely downloaded.)

#7 Exploring feeds (1)

I have set up a Bloglines account some time ago and found it a wonderful tool to keep up to date with websites I am interested in. It's like making your own web magazine with websites you are interested in - quick and easy.

But a word of warning: There are so much to look at that it is easy to suffer from information overload. When I first discovered feed subscription I subscribed to a whole slew of sites - everything from library related blogs, general news feeds, gardening, crafts, etc. It quickly lead to information overload, which is a common occurence in the beginning when exploring new resources. The antidote: delete, delete and delete again!! Now I only have subscriptions to websites that I really want to watch and I bookmarked the other blogs that I read whenever I want to catch up.

One of the features that is useful in Bloglines is that you can mark a post/article that you want to keep new (or on the list). (Once you clicked on the link on your 'playlist' Bloglines assumes you have read the posts/articles of listed. So when you close that list the articles are deleted from the list.) By marking the Keep it new box, the article will still be there the next time you check that link. It's like having an online clippings file. There are other ways of making an online clippings file, but this is a handy way of making a temporary one.