The document discusses RSS (Really Simple Syndication), its history, format, and applications in library science, highlighting how libraries use it to provide users with updated information efficiently. It outlines advantages of RSS, such as privacy and spam protection, along with challenges like limited availability and copyright concerns. The conclusion emphasizes RSS as an effective tool for aggregating diverse information sources for users.

1. GAURAV BOUDH
M-16
M.L.I.SC

2. CONTENTS
• Introduction
• What Is RSS ?
• History
• RSS Feeds
• Use of RSS feeds in Library Science
• RSS Feeds and Library Resources
• Who should use RSS
• Advantages of RSS
• Disadvantages of RSS
• Conclusion
• References

3. Introduction
•The advancement in technology has led LIS field to
adopt different technologies to serve the user.
•The older traditional methods have been replaced by
the new ones like WEB 2.0 technological tools.
•One of the WEB 2.0 tool is RSS Feeds.

4. What is RSS?
•RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication, that is a
means of distributing news or other web content from
an online publisher to users.
•It is an XML- based format for content distribution.
•Majority of RSS feeds contain news headlines.
•It is used by computer programs that organize those
headlines and notices for easy readings.

5. History
• RSS comes from Netscape’s innovative MyNetscape portal
service and Netcenter channels. Through the portal services,
Netscape allowed anyone who had a MyNetscape account to
publish news headings on his or her pages. Thus was born the
first version of RSS (0.9), introduced by Netscape in 1999.
• The official RSS 2.0 specification is released in 2003.

6. RSS Feeds
• RSS feed is usually a group of headlines, brief summaries
and links to full texts.
• RSS feeds refers to a family of web feed formats that are
used to published frequently updated works such as blog
entries, news headlines, audio and video etc.

7. Use of RSS feeds in Library Science
•Libraries are using RSS feed to serve the user in
modern way.
•It facilitates recent alert from different sources
like abstracting and indexing, other databases as
an alternative option to email alerts.

8. RSS Feeds and Library Resources
•RSS alerts from A&I source for
(alternative to emails alerts)
•RSS alerts to RefWorks accounts from A&I source
•RSS feeds from RefWorks shared folders

9. Who should use RSS
• NEWS sites – Lists news with title, date and descriptions
• Companies – List news and new products
• Calendars – List upcoming events and important
• Library and Information centres : To disseminate various information
needs by user
• Database Producers – To inform new information generated and
required by user

11. Advantages of RSS
For users, there are several advantages in subscribing to RSS feeds, a few of which are:
1. Privacy: One does not need to send one’s e-mail address anywhere, to anybody, in order
to subscribe to any RSS feed.
2. Spam Protection: Spam-like publishing is impossible with RSS feeds. If a feed becomes
annoying, one can cancel the subscription with only a few clicks of the mouse.
3. Easy Cancellation: One does not need to send an ‘unsub’ e-mail message as with most e-
mail list serves or go through a complicated process on any web site. To cancel a
subscription, simply delete (or ‘drop’) the feed from the list of feeds followed.
4. Current Content Management: RSS feeds identify the newest updates and additions,
and one can set feed readers and content aggregators to give an alert when new content has
arrived (in essence, providing an instant ‘current awareness’ service for users).

12. Disadvantages of RSS
• Not every site offers RSS feeds.
• Some RSS feeds expire after a specific time period.
• RSS content is not being used to its full potential.
• Copyright issues should be addressed.
• Librarians must apply selection criteria and evaluate resources
to reduce irrelevant results.

13. Conclusion
• It facilitates effective and efficient method of dissemination of
information.
• It is very easy for users to aggregate information coming from
various sources.
• Automatic updated for predefines searches majority of current
awareness service.

14. Reference
• “RSS” [definition entry]. Glossary. Whatis.Com/searchwebservices.Com.
Definitions, http://www.Searchwebservices.Techtarget.Com/ – accessed
oct 22 (2018)
• Gahran, amy: “what are webfeeds (RSS), and why should you care?”,
Contentious: news and musings on how we communicate in the online
age http://blog.Contentious.Com/archives/000038.Html (2003)