The RSS revolution - Using RSS: An Explanation and Guide

Information Outlook, Dec, 2002 by Steven M. Cohen

Once you've chosen, downloaded, and installed an aggregator, it's time to fill it with RSS feeds. To locate RSS feeds, look for the orange XML button or the blue RSS button on websites. Or use a directory of RSS feeds, such as Newsisfree (http://www.newsisfree.com) or Syndic8 (http://www.syndic8.com). Both have been invaluable to me for locating feeds on a particular issue I was researching, especially if I needed continuous updates.

Newsisfree has more than 3,400 sources for news feeds. You can browse by subject heading, search the extensive database by name or description, or search the latest headlines. Once you identify a site, Newsisfree will provide information about the site, news about the latest posts, an RSS link for syndication into the news aggregator, links to that site in Daypop (http://www.daypop.com) and other similar search engines, and links to automatically subscribe to the site via Web-based news aggregators. One of my favorite sections of the Newsisfree site is "Latest Channels" (http://www.newsisfree.com/sources/recent/). This section is updated daily and provides the newest feeds added to the database.

Syndic8 has more content then Newsisfree (more than 4,500 feeds) and is geared more toward the technological aspect of feeds. I have found the database very useful when attempting to locate a feed for a particular site. You can browse feeds via the subject headings used by the Open Directory Project (http://www.syndic8.com/feedcat.php), those used by the Newsisfree directory, and those used in the directories provided by Headline Viewer (http://www.syndic8.com/feedcat.php?Scheme = HV). But while these directories are useful for browsing purposes, they do not include everything available in the Syndic8 database.

Check Syndic8 and Newsisfree for feeds that may exist for the sites you look at every day. Place these feeds in an aggregator and test the software. You may be pleasantly surprised with the results.

Using These Tools

How can special librarians benefit from this growing knowledge base? First, there is a professional development issue to consider. To perform our jobs to the best of our abilities, currency is key. We need to know about the latest technology in search engines, content management, and knowledge management, and about new Web tools and websites that will enable us to serve our clientele better. Second, by using tools such as RSS feeds, we are positioning ourselves on the cutting edge of technology, allowing others to notice us as a force in content retrieval.

RSS can help librarians provide content in more ways than ever before. If you manage an intranet, you can place feeds geared toward a certain clientele directly onto a page that serves up content from multiple sources. If you prefer to relay this information manually to the user via an e-mail alert or newsletter, RSS can cut down your workload. As mentioned earlier, RSS can also be used to help clients (or even clients of clients) stay current, which, in turn, leads to better business practices.