1. Combating Information Overload with RSS Feeds Meghan Sitar Instruction and Outreach Librarian Library Instruction Services University of Texas Libraries http://www.lib.utexas.edu/services/instruction May 25, 2007

2. Goals for this Session Develop an understanding of what RSS feeds are and how they can be used to keep up with new information on the Web Become familiar with how to use an RSS reader/aggregator to subscribe to RSS feeds Begin to consider ways that RSS can be used in the classroom

5. What is RSS? Do you want to go to the newstand every day to check for the new issue of People or do you want it sent to your home when it’s published? RSS = Really Simple Syndication Behind-the-scenes code in a language similar to HTML called XML

7. RSS = Really Simple Syndication These content feeds exist for websites, blogs, and can even be created for your favorite searches Unlike email subscriptions to a site, you don’t need to worry about spammers, identity theft, or contacting an administrator to end your relationship with that site

8. RSS = Really Simple Syndication Most readers also allow you to create folders and categorize feeds, just like you would group your bookmarks. When you finish reading that content, it is removed from your reader unless you save it.

9. Readers / Aggregators = Your inbox for Web content Web-based  Bloglines, http://www.bloglines.comhttp://www.bloglines.com  Google Reader, http://www.google.com/readerhttp://www.google.com/reader  Newsgator, http://www.newsgator.comhttp://www.newsgator.com  Firefox Live Bookmarks: http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/livebookmarks http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/livebookmarks  Google Personalized Home Page, http://www.google.com/ig http://www.google.com/ig Other Web-Based and Desktop Readers:  http://allrss.com/rssreaders.html http://allrss.com/rssreaders.html

10. Step 1: Choose a reader and create an account www.bloglines.com www.google.com/reader

15. Step 2: Identify Content Clear out your browser bookmarks  Which sites are you already visiting daily?  Do they publish a feed? Do the journals and databases in your field use RSS to provide news and search alerts? Which sites publish new content that you need to follow? What are your interests? Start searching!  Google Blog Search, http://blogsearch.google.comhttp://blogsearch.google.com  Technorati, http://www.technorati.comhttp://www.technorati.com  Bloglines, http://www.bloglines.com/searchhttp://www.bloglines.com/search  Feedster, http://www.feedster.comhttp://www.feedster.com  College and University Feed Directory, http://directory.edufeeds.com http://directory.edufeeds.com  MiniBoxs RSS Magazine, http://www.miniboxs.comhttp://www.miniboxs.com

16. Step 3: Subscribe to Content Method 1: Click on feed icon

17. Step 3: Subscribe to Content Method 1: Click on feed icon

18. Step 3: Subscribe to Content Method 1: Click on feed icon

26. Step 3: Subscribe to Content Method 1: Click on feed icon

30. Step 3: Subscribe to Content Method 2: Paste the URL into Your Reader

35. Step 3: Subscribe to Content Method 3: Use Subscription Tools Provided by the Website

38. Step 3: Subscribe to Content Method 4: Use a Bookmarklet

44. Step 4: Manage Your Content Create Folders  Organize existing subscriptions into folders  Add new subscriptions to existing folders  Create new folders while adding subscriptions Keep New Clip/Blog This

49. In the Classroom Share Content  Email content from your reader  Make your blog or blogroll public in Bloglines  Add to “Shared” in Google Reader  Add syndicated content to your course website

56. In the Classroom Create a folder housing your students’ blogs

57. In the Classroom Have students subscribe to search alert RSS feeds from databases or other information sources as part of their research project Use social bookmarking sites like Furl.net or del.icio.us to allow collaborative gathering of sites related to the course

62. Additional resources for finding, creating, and managing RSS feeds on handout Please feel free to use the demo accounts Contact me with any questions msitar@austin.utexas.edu AIM: meghanlibrarian Questions?