RSS stands for really simple syndication, and is a tool that
delivers updates directly to readers. This means that if users subscribe to a
RSS enabled website can have new content delivered straight to them, instead of
looking for the new updates. (Parkes & Walton, 2010, p. 178). A user can
subscribe to many RSS feeds and receive updates from all of them; this means
the user doesn’t have to check all the different blogs they like, they can just
check a single feed.
The first example of an RSS feed is in the Charles Sturt
University Library Blog. This blog provides news updates about the library and
university. This is a link to the library blog http://blog.csu.edu.au/page/3/ and to
the RSS feed http://blog.csu.edu.au/feed/
.
Courtney (2007, p. 21) demonstrates how using a blog and RSS
feed enhances the university library’s ability to meet the needs of its user,
this is done by allowing them to receive immediate news updates. RSS feeds also
allow patrons to receive news about library events. Using RSS feeds will also benefit
the library by allowing them to distribute announcements to interested library
patrons.
The second example of how an RSS feed can be used is in the Australian
Library and Information Association (ALIA). ALIA offers several RSS feeds for
events, job ads, news, media releases and training events. This is a link to
the ALIA Sydney blog http://aliasydney.blogspot.com.au/
and to the RSS feed for ALIA events http://www.alia.org.au/events.xml
ALIA uses RSS feeds to meet the needs of members and
professionals. This is done by enhancing knowledge sharing among the user
community to promote ALIA activities. (De Sarkar, 2012, para 48). In the job
ads webpage links are provided to the various job vacancies and links have been
provided in the other webpages. This has helped meet the needs of library
professionals by providing information relevant to library and information
professionals. Weblogs that don’t use an RSS feed are at a disadvantage.
References
Courtney, Nancy. (2007). Library
and beyond: Innovative technologies and tomorrow’s users. London: Libraries
Unlimited.
De Sarkar, Tanmay.
(2012). Analyzing RSS applications on library web sites, Library Hi Tech News, 29(5), 4 – 21.
Retrieved from http://www.emeraldinsight.com.ezproxy.csu.edu.au/journals.htm?issn=0741-9058&volume=29&issue=5&articleid=17047212&show=html
Parks, Dave., & Walton, Geoff. (2010). Web 2.0 and libraries: Impacts, technologies
and trends. Oxford: Chandos Publishing.
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