RSS in Action (OLJ Activity Module 2)

I really like this symbol and the tool it represents. After a whole day searching, reading and trying it out, I’ve fallen in love with it. Well, maybe that’s a very strong word…I’ve fallen in like with it.

I’ve registered with Bloglines (a web-based RSS reader) but apparently Ask.com has gone bust and Merchant Circle has bought Bloglines. So the service is up in the air. I’m on a learning curve here and Bloglines is an easy aggregator (RSS reader) to use so it doesn’t really matter if I lose what I’ve saved (there’s not much on my list really). Other web-based aggregators are: News is Free (looks good), Netvibes and Pageflakes (currently upgrading service 22/11/10).

Some examples of RSS in action:

· University of Oklahoma Libraries RSS
· http://libraries.ou.edu/rss/

· Australian Library and Information Association
· http://www.alia.org.au/rss/

· University of Tasmania Libraries RSS
· http://www.library.utas.edu.au/sitename-news/Library-RSS-feed

· Wired
· http://www.wired.com/about/rss_feeds/

· The Motley Fool - a multimedia financial-services company that provides financial solutions for investors through various stock, investing, and personal finance products
· http://www.fool.com/feeds/index.aspx?id=foolwatch&format=rss2


What I like about this tool is that I don’t have to go the website every time I want to see what the latest news, trend or blog posts in the subject area I’m interested in. I just set it all up in my aggregator and voila news get updated automatically. This supports many informational needs that an individual or a group may have. The only problem I have with this is the lack of longevity with some of the web-based aggregators. Certainly, I could set it up on my desktop but that lacks portability.

The following are some ways RSS can be incorporated into the library’s service to meet the information needs of its users:

· To provide lists of new books/resources to the public
· To assist in catalogue searches
· To maintain a patron’s library account
· To help researchers keep up with newly published information
· To inform patrons of journal availability in their databases (Sauers, 2006, pp. 54-62)



Reference

Sauers, M.P. (2006). Blogging and RSS: A librarian’s guide. Medford, N.J.: Information Today.