Mara Bordignon Rosalie Waller Information Services Librarians Library Staff Tech Day: April 27, 2009

What will we cover today? Part 1: All about Alerts and RSS Feeds ○ What are Alerts & RSS feeds? ○ How can Alerts & RSS feeds be useful in my library work? Part 2: Using Alerts and RSS Feeds ○ How do I set up Alerts? ○ How do I set up RSS Feeds? ○ Hands-on exercises and questions

PART 1: All about Alerts and RSS Feeds

What is the problem? I have subscribed to too many listservs… I have subscribed to so many blogs… even with an aggregator/reader, I forget to read new postings… I don’t have time to read my favourite daily newspapers… I need to know the most current research in my field but what if I miss something… Who has time to keep on top of everything… Image source: Microsoft Office Clipart

What is an alert? Alerts are notifications containing “new” information, to which one subscribes… Table of Contents (TOC) Pre-defined Search Specific Topic Magazine, Journal, Newspaper Author Specific Column Section Types of alerts from our library databases or web sites

Alerts Google Scout Report

What are RSS Feeds ?  RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication Application of the Extended Markup Language(XML)  Way to distribute content as it becomes available  Content can include articles from library databases, new web sites, event listings, news headlines or news stories, excerpts from discussion forums, corporate information, etc  Automatically receive content via a reader

What are RSS Readers?  RSS readers help you view the latest information from multiple sites at once  Many readers are freely available.  Two popular free readers 1. Bloglines ○ Google Reader ○

Watch this youtube clip called RSS in plain English “RSS in plain English" Online video clip. YouTube. Seneca Lib. 23 Mar RSS in plain English.

What’s the difference? ALERTSRSS FEEDS Need an address to subscribeDo not need an address Cut and paste RSS feed link into your reader or directly into your website, or click on Sent automatically to your e.g. TOC: when a new issue of Search magazine is published Sent automatically to your reader e.g. TOC: when a new issue of Search magazine is published arrives and you check frequently Must check your reader frequently to not miss any feeds Not organized unless you apply filters Message via Organized by subject/topic tags Readers = specific gathering of information that you have predetermined and can organize

How can faculty and students use Alerts and RSS Feeds? RSS feeds can be added to your subject guides Professional development Keeping current in your subject area: for collections, reference, etc. Can add to your course readings pages Collection development (GBIP) Library Staff Find articles for projects Share articles in myseneca (persistent / stable links) Keeping current with research & developments Faculty & Students Image source: Microsoft Office Clipart

PART 2: Using Alerts and RSS Feeds

Some examples from Seneca Libraries Staff…  GBIP: alerts set up for lesser known publishers for collection development  Bloomberg.com: TV alerts for a company or subject mentioned on bloomberg TV Bloomberg.com  Google Alert: keeping current with your campus… “Seneca” and “Markham”  iGoogle: news from another country, music, weather alerts  Facebook: alerts

EBSCOhost: Mara’s account

TOC Alert: Searcher Magazine Can copy & paste this link into your reader, or Subject Guide page

TOC Alert: RSS feed link

Google … everywhere

Test yourself… 1 What is the difference between an EBSCO TOC RSS feed vs. a persistent link to an EBSCO publication?

Test yourself… 1 What is the difference between an EBSCO TOC RSS feed vs. a persistent link to an EBSCO publication? EBSCO TOC RSS feedEBSCO publication persistent link Codingxmlhtml ContentList of articlesIn EBSCO, publication’s holdings which lists all issues CoverageAs specified: most recently published issue first, followed by older issues Full electronic holdings as purchased by Seneca Libraries WidgetsYesNo

Test yourself… 2 Scenario: you find a website, e.g. researchbuzz.org Cannot tell if it is a blog Has no RSS button or link Has no subscription to receive s of updates …is it possible to include this site into your reader?

Test yourself… 2 Scenario: you find a website, e.g. researchbuzz.org Cannot tell if it is a blog Has no RSS button or link Has no subscription to receive s of updates …is it possible to include this site into your reader? Unsure if it is a blog?... easiest way to check is to cut and paste the web address into your ‘subscribe’ box of your reader. If it is a blog/RSS, your reader will automatically be able to read the postings.

Test yourself… 3 Which statement is false? You can set up filters so alerts go automatically into different folders to avoid cluttering your inbox You don’t need to give an address when subscribing to an RSS feed It is easy to unsubscribe to RSS feeds You can often choose how often to receive alerts To subscribe to an RSS feed, you need a program From:

Test yourself… 3 Which statement is false? You can set up filters so alerts go automatically into different folders to avoid cluttering your inbox You don’t need to give an address when subscribing to an RSS feed It is easy to unsubscribe to RSS feeds You can often choose how often to receive alerts To subscribe to an RSS feed, you need a program Correct! To subscribe to an RSS feed you only need a feed reader which can be web-based From:

Test yourself… 4 Your turn… Set up an alert on: Your car -OR- Your favourite leisure reading magazine

We know we can find Alerts and RSS feeds in most of our databases… where else can we find them?

Seneca: news RSS feeds

EDUCAUSE

How Do I Find Web Sites? Internet Resources Newsletter Pandia Post ResearchBuzz Scout Report Image source: Microsoft Office Clipart

Thank you! If you have any questions or concerns, we would happy to assist you. Please feel free to contact us: