Transcript RSS Training for Librarians

What is RSS?
Kate Pitcher
© 2005-2006
[email protected]
Objectives for today’s session…
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Define RSS
Understand what an RSS feed is and how it
works
Understand how an RSS newsreader
(aggregator) works
Subscribe to or download an RSS newsreader
Find and subscribe to RSS feeds
What is RSS??
Real Simple Syndication
Rich Site Summary
RSS is the format which allows websites and blogs to
syndicate or distribute their content to users, by using
XML code to describe the content being distributed
(“information about the information”).
RSS includes headlines, abstracts, summaries,
analyses; anything which gives readers a quick
rundown of all the latest updates from a website or
blog.
How RSS Feeds work…
Blog
Today’s post
Archived posts
RSS Feed
Feeds into an aggregator
or newsreader
Subscribers
Subscribers
Subscribers
Subscribers
Why XML??
XML is a logical choice for the syndication of content, since it
is the general purpose programming language for representing
information and metadata on the Web. RSS itself is an
application which uses XML to express itself.
RSS publishers use Extensible Markup Language (XML) to
describe the content of their Web sites, much the way
Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) lets a web page
publisher determine the format in which content is displayed
for a browser.
Icon used to indicate RSS feeds are available
Example of XML code which makes up the Washington Post’s RSS feed for
the highlights from their daily paper...
How do I read an RSS feed?
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Must subscribe to or download something
called an RSS newsreader or sometimes called
an aggregator
Much like how an internet browser works to
translate HTML code into viewable web pages
 a newsreader “translates” the XML file into
a readable format
Newsreaders
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Plug-ins (example: Pluck)
Web-based (example: Bloglines)
Standalone applications for your desktop
(example: FeedDemon)
RSS Newsreaders
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Bloglines http://www.bloglines.com
FeedDemon http://www.feeddemon.com
NewsGator http://www.newsgator.com
Pluck http://www.pluck.com
Sage http://sage.mozdev.org/ (Firefox users)
FeedReader http://www.feedreader.com/
AmphetaDesk
http://www.disobey.com/amphetadesk/
How do I find RSS feeds?
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Look for an icon marked XML or RSSon
your favorite website or blog. It usually
looks something like these 
Do a search in Google or another search
engine for “rss feeds” or your favorite
subject followed by “RSS”
Use Feedster or another search engine
specifically designed to find RSS feeds
Library-related RSS Feeds
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Pubmed http://pmbrowser.info
Library Stuff http://www.librarystuff.net/index.rdf
LISNews http://www.lisnews.com/lisnews.rss
Library Jobs http://feedster.com/makerss.php?
Research Buzz
http://www.researchbuzz.com/researchbuzz.rss
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Resource Shelf
http://www.resourceshelf.com/resourceshelf.xml
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LISFeeds.com
http://www.lisfeeds.com
RSS Advantages
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visitors can access multiple sites without having to go
to each one
subscribe to the RSS feeds of sites you like and the
content comes to you
use a news aggregator to read the headlines and links
in one place
do not need to give out your email address to web sites
to receive updates
will need a aggregator to read content
Jardin, Xeni. “Why RSS is Everywhere.” Wired. April 2004.
19 May 2004 http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.04/start.html?pg=7.
Go to Pluck’s main page to login (bottom of screen)
In Bloglines (http://www.bloglines.com), log in to your account, or Register if you
are a new user.
In the left sidebar will be three tabs: My Feeds, My Blog, Clippings
Click on My Feeds to open up the window with the Feeds you have
subscribed to.
In the above example, I have clicked on the RSS Feed for the Guardian
Unlimited Newspaper and in the main window on the right, you can
see all the recent postings, with the most recent at the top.
In order to read the full post, I must click on the title of the post to go
to the Guardian Unlimited blog.
To subscribe to an RSS Feed, I must have the URL of the XML file which is created
by the blog or web site owner. In the above example, I am subscribing to the site
feed created for my blog, The Book Burden. This is where users will copy and paste
the site feed URL you create in Blogger – if they want to subscribe to your feed.
After clicking “Subscribe” you will now receive the most recent postings
from this particular blog.
After subscribing to the blog, the RSS Feed title will show up in the My Feeds folder
on the left sidebar. Click on the title to get the most recent postings from this blog.
Appearing in the main window will be the most recent postings from this
blog. Click on the title to go to the real post in the blog.
Some reasons for using RSS on a website…
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Draws people to your website
Users are notified by subscribing, not by emails
to individuals or by listserv
Should have a good reason  i.e. if your
website or blog is not updated frequently, an
RSS feed will let someone know whether or
not to check your site rather than coming to it
Any Questions?
Email Kate
[email protected] OR
Bonnie
[email protected]