Using RRS Feed on Your Library's Website

Every library in every city now seems to have a website displaying upcoming events, new books releases and new programs. But how many libraries use RSS feed to inform patrons of these events? Although the numbers are growing, many are not taking advantage of this free service. [1]

What are RSS Feeds?

RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication” or “Rich Site Summary” which “…allows a producer of information to broadcast the information across the Intranet or the Internet” [2]. Or in other words, it is a “…notification system used to alert subscribers to changes made to their favourite websites, blogs…” [3] or a library's website! An RSS Feed is created through an extensible markup language or also known as an XML language. Going into the details of the XML language is beyond the purpose of this blog, and therefore I am not going to discuss that. What I am going to discuss are the purposes for using an RSS Feed in a library setting.

What an RSS Feed Can Do for Your Library

            Hart (n.d.), in his article Library 2.0: RSS Feeds Dynamic Uses for Special Libraries provides a few ideas on ways in which a special library can use an RSS Feed. Although his focus is on special libraries, some of his ideas can also apply to any library. Here are his suggestions for the uses of an RSS Feed:

·         Consumer and patient education.

·         Creation of library RSS feeds to be read by an individual’s RSS Reader helping the user stay current on available library services such as upcoming library training programs or new resources.

·         Current awareness and news.

·         Guideline updates.

·         Integrate feeds into Learning Management Systems as available resources.  

·         Latest books from the library catalog.

·         Local health alerts.

·         RSS Calendar, www.rsscalendar.com, allows you to create a calendar on the web, then publish the calendar and create a feed using JavaScript to copy and paste into web pages.

·         Ta-da-lists, www.tadalists.com, create a project to-do list organizing the team’s tasks and deadlines, and then share the lists on a web page.

·         Reading Lists and Sharing Bookmarks sites such as Del.icio.us, http://del.icio.us, create a list of valuable web resources to share with team members. An RSS feed can be created from this site to be shared with team members and library web site users.[4]

Feed Reader Choices

To be able to subscribe to an RSS Feed, users need to be aware that there are three different types of readers available: a standalone reader, add-ons and built in web feed readers. Let’s look at what each has to offer!

Standalone reader – According to the article written by Digital Trends—a well-known website that provides product reviews, editorials and technology news about new consumer products, their functionality and how to make the most out of these products—a standalone reader is basically an application designed to gather all the news from the websites that you have signed up on. In other words, it is “your news’ hunter and gatherer.” [5] The advantage with this type of reader is that patrons get automatically notified of any updates on the library’s website. [6] FeedDemon, Blonglines or Netvibes are all examples of standalone readers. The only disadvantage with a standalone reader is that it is another program that a patron needs to download onto his or her computer. [7][8]

Add-ons – Contrary to a standalone reader, add-on readers work together with your internet browser or Outlook. The upside about an add-on reader is that users do not need to download another program onto their computers; and most of the time, users will have Internet Explorer or Outlook on anyway, which makes it that much easier to access your news feeds. However, there is also a downside! With some add-on programs that are compatible with Outlook, individuals have the option to make folders for each website news feed they sign up. The disadvantage with that is that folders can accumulate, and users may find themselves with too many folders to manage. [9]

Built in Web-Feed Readers – These readers require no installation as they are built in right into the web browser. For example, Mozilla Firefox allows a user to basically bookmark an RSS feed in their Favourites folder, creating live bookmarks. [10] Google Chrome also has the “star shape” icon which signifies the benefit of bookmarking.  Although this is fast and easy, the downside is that the user has to go in and look for updates, as opposed to the updates coming to him or her as with the standalone reader.

Using an RSS Feed is great for those patrons who already know how to use it. Having an RSS Feed available encourages individuals to either add the library to their favourites list or bookmark such page through the web-browser’s Bookmark page. If individuals already have a standalone reader that they use to keep up to date with other websites and blogs, it makes it that much easier to also add the library’s RSS feed link into to the reader.

How to Create an RSS Feed?

Make-RSS-Feeds.com is an excellent website that provides step by step instructions on how to make an RSS Feed onto one’s website. For example, it explains that in order to begin, one must use an XML file that uses open and close tags (which are surrounded by brackets < >) in order to identify the tile, description and link of a website. The website further shows how each section has to be written in the XML format. The format follows the HTML format normally used in website designs. The website further explains that an RSS feed is a series of items that are tied together in order to create a channel. This channel is then elaborated on and the website provides step by step instruction on the format that one has to write in order to write a channel. The website discusses the RSS designation, and what formatting is necessary to achieve such designation. [11]

Where should you place the RSS feed Icon on the Library’s Website?

            Lennartz (2007) in his article RSS Feed: Best Design Practices and Icons, argues that there are two ideal positions for an RSS icon to be placed: in the area that surrounds the logo of the website or the top area of the website. He argues that the lower an RSS icon is placed, the lower the chances are that individuals will subscribe. [12] That is, when librarians are questioning the placement of an RSS feed, the key is to place it at the top as patrons can readily notice the RSS Feed and quickly remember to add it to their favourites.

Recognizable Rss Icons

           

            Lennartz (2007) also suggests that it is crucial to use icons that are easily recognizable to users. [13] The most common and recognizable icon is the orange square with the white “sound” that looks something like this:

Image Retrieved from http://media.smashingmagazine.com/images/rss/feedicon.png

Other icons that librarians can use when creating their RSS Feed are the following examples. Note that most of them contain the orange icon or shape for easy recognition.

         

Image Retrieved from http://media.smashingmagazine.com/images/rss/webfruits.png

  

Image Retrieved from http://media.smashingmagazine.com/images/rss/studyabroad.png

Image Retrieved from http://media.smashingmagazine.com/images/rss/vikiworks.png

Anybody can design their own icons. The key is to make sure patrons can recognize the design and that it somewhat represents the normal RSS Feed Icon.

Here are some icon examples, that in my opinion, are not as that easily recognizable:

Image Retrieved from http://media.smashingmagazine.com/images/rss/rss128.png

Image Retrieved from http://media.smashingmagazine.com/images/rss/blimp.jpg 

Overall Advantages of Libraries using RSS Feeds

In his article on why special libraries should incorporate RSS Feed, Hart (n.d.) discusses some of the following advantages:

1.      Not only can you deliver immediate information, but patrons can have access to instant information about the library’s upcoming events and new programs etc.

2.      All information is transmitted automatically to users when an update is made, which means no added labour for the librarian!

3.      It increases traffic on the library’s website.

4.      Information that is transmitted through an RSS Feed can be collected from the catalogue or databases.

5.      Users can easily unsubscribe from the RSS Feed, at any time.

6.      The information that a user would get from an RSS Feed would be read through an RSS Reader or through the web-browser, which means that a user’s e-mail inbox will not get crowded with this additional information.

7.      And most importantly, it enables patrons to stay up to date with the most current information that the library wants them to know. [14]

Disadvantages of RSS Feeds

            Lastly, there are also some disadvantages to using an RSS Feed. Hart (n.d.) suggests that firstly, copy right issues must be addressed when using RSS Feeds and secondly, that librarians must use a selection criteria to evaluate the resources used in order to reduce irrelevant results. [15] Other issues that may arise relate to the fact that some patrons may not know how to use an RSS Feed and therefore, may not take advantage of that type of newsfeed. Perhaps, one solution to that is that librarians can put posters around the library that tells patrons of the option to sign up for the RSS Feed on the library’s website. Or, librarians can inform patrons about such option when patrons use the library’s services, like signing out books.

Do you think RSS Feeds are useful? Comment below!

References

[1] Lennartz, S. “RSS Best Design Practices and Icons.” Smashing Magazine. (2007, Nov 2). Retrieved from http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2007/11/02/rss-best-design-practices-and-icons/

[2] Hart, L. G. Library 2.0: RSS Feeds Dynamic Uses for Special Libraries. N.d. Retrieved from http://www.sla.org/pdfs/sla2007/hartrssfeeds.pdf 

[3] Digital Trends. (2005, Oct 10). How to use RSS. Digital Trends. Retrieved from http://www.digitaltrends.com/how-to/how-to-use-rss/

[4] Hart, L. G. Library 2.0: RSS Feeds Dynamic Uses for Special Libraries. N.d. 

[5] Digital Trends. How to use RSS. Digital Trends. (2005, Oct 10).

[6]  Lennartz, S. RSS Best Design Practices and Icons. Smashing Magazine. (2007, Nov 2).

[7] Digital Trends. How to use RSS. Digital Trends. (2005, Oct 10).

[8]  Lennartz, S. (2007, Nov 2). RSS Best Design Practices and Icons. Smashing Magazine

[9] Digital Trends. How to use RSS. Digital Trends. (2005, Oct 10).

[10] Digital Trends. How to use RSS. Digital Trends. (2005, Oct 10).

[11] Make RSS Feeds.com. (n.d.) Make RSS Feeds. Make-RSS-Feeds.com. Retrieved from http://www.make-rss-feeds.com/making-an-rss-feed.htm

[12] Lennartz, S. (2007, Nov 2)

[13] Lennartz, S. (2007, Nov 2)

[14] Hart, L. G. Library 2.0: RSS Feeds Dynamic Uses for Special Libraries. N.d.

[15] Hart, L. G. Library 2.0: RSS Feeds Dynamic Uses for Special Libraries. N.d