Introduction
According to a survey, the majority of people have not heard of RSS or understand the relevance of the small orange tags on Web sites, but this is changing rapidly. In the information world, RSS is not only revolutionizing the way news, media, and content creators share information, but it also is swiftly changing the way users are consuming information.RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication” and is a file format for delivering regularly updated information over the Web. Just think about the Web sites and news information sources you visit everyday. It takes time to visit those sites and scour the ad-filled and image-heavy pages for just the text you want to read.
A newsreader and RSS allows you to visit all those information sources and Web pages in one place and all at the same time:
· Without being bombarded with advertising
· Without having to search for new information on an already visited page
· Without having to consume vast amounts of time visiting each site individually.
Learn about RSS newsfeeds and the free tools you can use by reading more about RSS or view this video at BlipTV. Read the blog posting that discusses the difference between RSS feed readers, Bloglines, and Google Reader.
Explore
Set up your own, personalized RSS feed reader. Create a free "RSS aggregator" account from either Bloglines or Google Reader and subscribe to at least 5 newsfeeds to your reader.
Set up your own, personalized RSS feed reader. Create a free "RSS aggregator" account from either Bloglines or Google Reader and subscribe to at least 5 newsfeeds to your reader.
Step One: Choose one of the following options to complete.
- Option 1: Bloglines
To create an account in Bloglines, follow steps 1-3 of the Bloglines Tutorial. Also, view a short video on YouTube on how to add feeds. - Option 2: Google Reader
To set up an RSS aggregator in Google Reader, view the tutorials at Google Reader Tour, video tutorial#1 or #2, and/or step-by-step process.
Step Two: Now that you have an RSS Reader (your Bloglines or Google Reader account), begin adding other feeds that interest you. There are several ways to locate RSS feeds:
When visiting your favourite Web sites, look for RSS feed icons. Often a feed icon will be displayed somewhere in the navigation of the site.
Newsfeeds You May Want To Add to Your Reader:
- CNET Video: RSS – Feel the Need for Feeds: An overview of RSS and its benefits
- Feed Me: A gentle introduction to Internet feeds: A tutorial from Palinet, a library cooperative
- How to Make your RSS Feeds Pop! Check your local newspaper and discover if they have an RSS feed you can subscribe to
- Use Blogline's Search Tool: Bloglines recently expanded search tool lets you search for news feeds in addition to posts, citations, and the Web. Use the Search for Feeds option to locate RSS feeds you might be interested in.
Explore other search tools that can help you find feeds:
- Technorati - Technorati is a popular blog finding tool that lets you search for blogs. Since RSS feeds are inherent to all blogging tools, Technorati Blog Search can help you find RSS feeds for topic specific blogs you may be interested in.
- Feedster - One of the largest collections of RSS feeds, Feedster lets you search for feeds in three categories: news, blogs & podcasts
Step 3: Let others subscribe to your site. If you publish a blog, you publish a feed. A feed is the format that allows your content to be delivered (and subscribed to) on the Web. Feedburner makes this a simple process.
Cut and paste your blog's Web address (URL) in the "Ready to Burn?" form. If you plan to publish a podcast with your Blogger feed, check the "I am a podcaster" box. Click "Next". Follow the rest of the steps.
RSS allows requested items to come to you. How might you use this technology professionally and personally?
Reflect
Create a blog post about your experience. The following questions can be used to guide your response:
- What do you like about RSS and newsreaders?
- How might you use this technology professionally and personally?
- How can libraries use RSS or take advantage of this new technology?
Provide the URL address to your public bloglines account. Click on the Share tab within your Bloglines account. Scroll down the right screen pane and locate the public URL. A public account allows the sharing of blog rolls with others. This is how Library Learning 2.0 participants are tracked.
