RSS Feeds

What is an RSS feed?

• Various things it stands for

• Really Simple Syndication

• Rich Site Summary

• RDF (Resource Description Framework) Site Summary

   

• A format (XML) for sharing content of news sites, blogs, wikis and more.

   

What are they for?

• RSS feeds allow you to have content from blogs, wikis, podcasts, etc. delivered to you!  No more reminding yourself to check this blog or download that podcast-- using an RSS feed and an aggregator your favorite sites come directly to you.  Just look for the RSS symbol in your browser's address bar or any of thse symbols:

   

  Click, and you're just a step or two away from streamlined content delivery!

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Video: RSS in Plain English

How to manage content using RSS feeds

Clicking on the "Subscribe to this Blog" link is just the first step-- you need a place for all your newly subscribed-to feeds to go.  That place is an aggregator.  Instead of remembering to visit multiple blogs, wikis and other sites, you just need to pop into your aggregator and see what's new. 

Here's a snapshot from my own Google Reader:

These web-based aggregators are free and easy to use.

• Google Reader 

  www.google.com/reader

• Bloglines

  www.bloglines.com

No RSS Feed?  Make One!

Have you found a website that regularly updates but doesn't have an RSS feed?  You can create a feed for any webpage and have the content delivered to your feed reader with a tool called Page2RSS.  Page2RSS monitors any webpage you select and sends you updates when it notices new content.  Just enter the URL of the website and add the newly created feed to your reader or aggregator.  Page2RSS even has a button that you can add to your browser's bookmark toolbar so creating a feed is even easier!

Activity

Set Up a Feed Reader

1. Go to Google Reader-- http://www.google.com/reader

2. Click "Create an Account" (if you already have a Gmail or other Google account, you can go ahead and sign in)

3. Enter your email account and create a password that you will remember

4. Verify the security word and agree to the terms of service

5. Click "Create my Account"

6. Retrieve the confirmation email from your Inbox and follow the link

7. Click the button to go to your account settings

8. Click "Reader"

9. On the left-hand side, click the button "Add subscription"

10. Type:  http://blog.codlibrary.org/

11. Click "Add"

12. You are now subscribed to the College of DuPage Library blog!

     

Advanced Steps

1. On the bottom left-hand side of the Reader screen, click "Manage Your Subscriptions"

2. Click "Add a Folder"

3. Click "New Folder"

4. Give your folder a name (e.g.: "COD", "Library Blogs")

5. Click "Goodies"

6. Click and drag the "+Google" button up to your Bookmark Toolbar-- now you can easily add feeds to your Google Reader