Make your life "really simple" with RSS
You’ve heard of RSS? You’ve seen those small funny tags on websites? In the information world, RSS is not only revolutionalizing the way news, media and content creators share information, but it also is swiftly changing the way everyday users are consuming information.
RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication” and is an XML file format for delivering content on the web. You will also find RSS referred to as “web feeds” or just “feeds”. If your favourite website publishes an RSS feed, you don’t have to keep visiting it to find fresh content; you can just subscribe to the RSS feed and wait for that fresh content to come to you!
Learn more about RSS from Wikipedia
Watch this video - RSS in Plain English (3:43) - a great introduction from Common Craft.
RSS aggregators
RSS aggregators are applications that read RSS feeds. An aggregator will take an RSS feed and convert coding into something that is readable, with a defined title, formatting, and hypertext links that you can click on. The other important feature of an aggregator is the built-in update function that checks the feeds you’ve subscribed to for fresh, new content. If new content is found, your aggregator delivers that to you.
If a website publishes a feed, it is usually indicated on the site in at least one of the following ways:
Discovery Exercise:
Further Readings (optional)
RSS for Non-Techie Librarians, Steven M. Cohen (this article is librarian/library-focused, but the explanations are approachable and the ideas are easily adaptable to any context
Use for or by Medical Libraries (examples):
*) You can also use Bloglines. Both aggregators offer similar features and functionality and the choice between the two usually comes down to personal preference. If you need some help deciding between Bloglines and Google Reader, take a look at this article, or set up accounts on both sites, add some feeds, and decide for yourself!
You’ve heard of RSS? You’ve seen those small funny tags on websites? In the information world, RSS is not only revolutionalizing the way news, media and content creators share information, but it also is swiftly changing the way everyday users are consuming information.RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication” and is an XML file format for delivering content on the web. You will also find RSS referred to as “web feeds” or just “feeds”. If your favourite website publishes an RSS feed, you don’t have to keep visiting it to find fresh content; you can just subscribe to the RSS feed and wait for that fresh content to come to you!
Learn more about RSS from Wikipedia
Watch this video - RSS in Plain English (3:43) - a great introduction from Common Craft.
RSS aggregators
RSS aggregators are applications that read RSS feeds. An aggregator will take an RSS feed and convert coding into something that is readable, with a defined title, formatting, and hypertext links that you can click on. The other important feature of an aggregator is the built-in update function that checks the feeds you’ve subscribed to for fresh, new content. If new content is found, your aggregator delivers that to you.
Types of aggregators:
- Desktop: these are software applications that required downloading and installation on a computer.
- Web-based: online aggregators live on the web and require users to set up a username and password to access them. To access a web-based aggregator, you go to the site, login, and read your feeds online. The advantage of web-based aggregators is that you can access them from multiple computers (home, work, service desks, etc.). Two popular web-based aggregators are Bloglines and Google Reader.
- Personal startpage Tools with integrated RSS readers, like:
- Browser- and email client-based: the latest versions of many browsers (like Firefox and Internet Explorer 7) include the ability to subscribe to and read RSS feeds right in the browser. Also, a couple of popular email clients (like Outlook 2007 and Thunderbird) include a feed reader.
(See also : Comparison of feed aggregators)
If a website publishes a feed, it is usually indicated on the site in at least one of the following ways:
- a hyperlinked orange icon
- a link called “RSS” or “XML” or “Subscribe” (or some variation thereof)
Discovery Exercise:
- Set up a Google Reader account *) Sign in with your Google account.
- Subscribe to the feed for this blog, address: http://web20spb.blogspot.com/.
To subscribe:
- right-click the feed URL
- select “Copy Link Location” or “Copy Shortcut”
- open up your aggregator, and subscribe to the feed using one of these methods: login to your Google account, click “Add subscription” at the top-left of the page, paste the feed URL into the input box that appears, and click “Add”.
- Once you’ve subscribed to the feed for this blog, check out some of your colleagues blogs and subscribe to their feeds! To find their feed addresses, you will have to visit the blog and look for one of those RSS icons or an RSS/Subscribe link.
- Try Google Reader Features like:
- Discover and search for feeds, topics, people, friends etc
- Follow people
- Share your feeds (check Sharing Settings)
- Explore
- Google Reader Play
- Still looking for more feeds to subscribe to? Check out some journals or databases, several of them offer feeds.
- Add stuff - RSS Feeds ( See below for examples of medical rss feeds)
- Save a PubMed Search as an RSS Feed and add it to your RSS Reader.To create an RSS feed and enter it into a feed reader:After you have run the search you want to use:
- Step 1 : Click on RSS, above the search box.
- Step 2 : Choose the number of items to be sent daily to the feed reader, and rename the feed, if desired. Click Create RSS.
- Step 3a : Drag and drop the XML icon onto the feed reader interface
OR
Step 3b : Click on the orange XML icon, and copy the URL in the address box of the resulting browser window. Follow the instructions of your feed reader software .
- Step 1 : Click on RSS, above the search box.
- (See the complete Pubmed Tutorial in RSS)
Further Readings (optional)
RSS for Non-Techie Librarians, Steven M. Cohen (this article is librarian/library-focused, but the explanations are approachable and the ideas are easily adaptable to any context
Use for or by Medical Libraries (examples):
- PeRSSonalized Medicine: http://www.webicina.com/perssonalized/
- MedWorm: http://medworm.com
- RSS4medics: http://rss4medics.com
- FeedNavigator: http://www.terkko.helsinki.fi/feednavigator
- TicTOCS: http://www.tictocs.ac.uk
*) You can also use Bloglines. Both aggregators offer similar features and functionality and the choice between the two usually comes down to personal preference. If you need some help deciding between Bloglines and Google Reader, take a look at this article, or set up accounts on both sites, add some feeds, and decide for yourself!
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