Keeping Up!
Web Feeds for Information Literate Librarians
Lorie Kloda & Genevieve Gore
McGill Library
WILU 2007

Overview
• Brief intro to the workshop
• Intro to the world of feeds & feed readers
• Setting up and using a feed reader account
BREAK
• Adding content to your feed reader
• Customizing your account & sharing content
• Using feeds in libraries
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History of this Workshop
Purpose
• To introduce library staff to web feeds for keeping
current
• To solicit ideas on how the library could utilize the
technology to improve communication and service
Attendance
• 50 individuals over 6 workshops offered in Spring 2006
• Feedback received from only 17; generally positive
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Reflection Activity 1
What are your objectives for
this workshop?
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What are feeds?
Online content that has been marked-up for simplifying
current awareness
RSS
• Rich Site Summary, renamed RDF Site Summary
(RSS 1.0)
• Really Simple Syndication (RSS 2.0)
• An XML application for publishing content on the web
Atom
• A competing protocol which offers an alternative to RSS
for the same purpose
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Blogs
What is a Blog?
• Web log = Blog
• A website powered by software that simplifies publishing,
organizing, and syndicating web content
• Online journals where individuals, or groups of
individuals, or institutions may post information, links, or
headlines
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Recognizing Feeds
What does RSS look like?
• Recognizable format
(especially blogs and
news)
• Presence of RSS /
XML / ATOM subscribe
button(s)
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What is a Podcast?
• An audio file (usually MP3) available via RSS
• Combines the terms iPod and broadcast, but can be
listened to using any device that can play audio content
• In addition to general feed directories, there exist
separate directories just for locating podcasts
• Example: LibVibe
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Why Should I Use RSS?
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Methods for Getting Feeds
1. Web-based
2. Desktop
3. Start page or portal
4. Built-in/add-in to browsers
5. Email-based client
6. Subscribe using email
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Create a Bloglines Account
• Go to the Bloglines website
• Using an web-based email account, enter email
address and password
– Mark them down in the workbook for future reference
• Enter correct time zone
• Check your email for account confirmation
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Bloglines Notifier
• A little icon in your system tray
– Lets you know when new items have been posted to
the feeds to which you subscribe
– Easy way to access your Bloglines account
– Good reminder to use Bloglines!
• Instructions are in the workbook
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Tools for Adding Feeds to Bloglines
1) Browser icon in URL bar: easiest
2) Bookmarklet (req. install)
3) Right-click context menu (req. install)
4) Using your feed reader, e.g., Bloglines
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(2) Bookmarklet
• Lives on the Links bar
of your browser
• A small JavaScript program that automates some
repetitive tasks or adds new functionality to your browser
• Doesn’t work well if you are trying to subscribe from the
.xml, .rss page displaying the feed itself
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(3) Right-click Context Menu (IE)
• Subscribe using the right-
click button on your mouse
• Requires installation
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Subscribe to a Feed
Find and subscribe to the
Information Literacy and Fluency
feed from EDUCAUSE
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Directories & Search Engines
• Directories offer subject or category browsing
• Search engines allow you to search using
keywords in the text of the blogs & feeds
• Examples of general, library, and academic
directories and search engines
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Find feeds using a directory
• Go to the directory LisZen
• Click on List of blogs
• Find e.g. InfoPill in the alphabetical directory
• Go to InfoPill and subscribe to the feed using
any method that works for you
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Journal Table of Contents (TOCs)
• Many journal publishers now offer table of
contents alerts in RSS format
• Alternative to emailed TOC alerts
• Most links are available from the individual
journal homepage, although some offer groups
of journals as a single feed
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Repository Contents
• Some institutional or subject repositories allow
subscriptions using feed readers
• Rather than monthly or quarterly updates as for
TOCs, these alert you whenever new content is
added
• Some repositories allow you to create a
customized feed by subject or author
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Reflection Activity 2
For what topics would
you like to keep current?
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Creating Custom Feeds
LibWorm:
– Go to LibWorm
– Perform your search, subscribe to the feed
LISTA (Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts):
– Go to LISTA
– Click on ‘New Features’, check off One Step Alerts
– Perform your search and subscribe
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RSS channels: Another feed type
• Available from Factiva, ProQuest, CanLII, some
library catalogues
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Organizing Your Feeds
• It is recommended to start with 10-15 feeds
• You can add more as you feel comfortable; sort
into folders for information management
• Don’t forget to weed!
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Sharing Your Feeds
What is a Blogroll?
• A list of the feeds that an individual subscribes to with
their feed reader
• Like a list of “favourites” or “bookmarks” of feeds
• In Bloglines:
http://www.bloglines.com/public/[name of account]
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What Is an OPML File?
What is an OPML file?
• Outline Processor Markup Language
• XML format for outlines
• Used to exchange feed lists (or blogrolls)
between feed readers, individuals
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Reflection Activity 3
With whom would you like
to share feeds?
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Reflection Activity 4
What use(s) do you see for
feeds/RSS in your library?
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Use of Feeds/RSS by Libraries
• SDI
– Library catalogues, databases
• Dissemination of Library news, resources
• Syndication of external feeds on library websites
– CBC feed on University of Winnipeg website
– Subject guides
Staff use
– knowledge management
– current awareness
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