RSS & Web Feeds

 

Save time and stay current with RSS

What is RSS

RSS (Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary) is a simple, convenient, spam-free method, for tracking frequently updated sites. RSS feeds are available for many news sites, blogs, journal tables of contents and database searches. Each time a site is updated, the new content is sent to your RSS reader.

If a web page or site has a feed, you will usually see an icon like one of these somewhere on the page

   

RSS Feed Readers | Feeds To Get Started With | Ebsco RSS Feeds

RSS Feed Readers

RSS Feeds are written in a format known as XML. In order to view these feeds you require an RSS Reader. The reader works with the XML file in the same way that a web browser makes an HTML file understandable. There are many to choose from. Web-based readers tend to have fewer features but have the advantage in that they are accessible from any web browser. The desk-top readers tend to be more robust and customizable, but you are only able to read the feeds on computer that the reader is installed on.

Web-based Readers Desktop Readers
  • Bloglines - register for an account and subscribe to RSS feeds in the "Feeds" tab
  • Google Reader - Try Google Reader to keep track of your RSS feeds
  • Live Bookmarks in Firefox 2.0+ - allows you to add RSS feeds as "Live Bookmarks" or choose to add the feed to another feed reader service such as Bloglines or Google Reader
  • My Yahoo - allows you to create a personal page to monitor selected feeds and sites
  • NewsGator - another free and popular online feed reader. They also make a desktop version as well
  • Open Directory Project - a lengthy list of other online readers
  • FeedReader (PC) - a free desktop reader
  • NetNewsWire (Mac) - a excellent reader, but not free
  • Open Directory Project - list of readers by platform
  • CBC - suggested readers list from the CBC (also with a list of CBC feeds)
  • BBC - suggested readers list from the BBC (also with a list of BBC feeds)


RSS Feeds to get started with

Once you start looking for the    button you will see it everywhere. But here are some suggestions for possible feeds to get you started.

Academic Publisher/Journals Websites
  • The Daily (StatsCan) - feeds for all information released in The Daily from Statistics Canada
  • EDUCAUSE - a nonprofit association whose mission is to advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology.
  • Inside Higher Ed - an online source for news, opinion and jobs for all of higher education. RSS link is at the bottom of the page
  • National Research Council of Canada

News Services


Ebsco RSS Feeds

EBSCO (which includes databases such as Academic Search Premier, Business Source Premier and PsycInfo) allows users to create RSS feeds for individual searches and for active publications.

Search Alert Feeds
To create a search alert feed, you need to perfrom a search. Once you have completed a search, you should see the orange RSS icon above the search boxes and a link that reads Create alert for this search. When you click the link, a window will appear informing you that "your alert has been created." You will be able to copy and paste the URL for the Syndication Feed into your prefered RSS Reader.

You can also create a feed from any of the searches that you have performed during your session by clicking the Search History/Alerts tab, and then clicking the orange RSS icon by each search.

Publication Feeds
With Ebsco databases, you can also create RSS feeds for individual journals in the database. This way you will be notified of all the new articles when they are published. To find the journals, just click on the Publications link below the Advanced Search tab at the top of the page. When you locate the journal you wish to create a feed for, just click the orange RSS icon beside the title.

More information on Ebsco RSS feeds can be found here.

For more information and help with RSS feeds, please contact your subject area Liaison Librarian.

Updated: 19/06/2007
Updated by: CD

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