What is RSS?
RSS stands for "Really Simple Syndication." Syndication allows web sites or weblogs (blogs) to distribute and share content with other web sites. Simply put, you can have the latest information from a web site or blog sent directly to you, freeing you from having to visit a site everyday.
A web site or blog distributes its information through an RSS feed.
RSS feeds are usually identified by a graphic like the ones shown here.
Sometimes they have text like "Subscribe here," "Syndicated content" or "Get Headlines".
Why would I use RSS feeds?
- Keep up with what's new on your favourite web pages, including pages at the Libraries' web site like new books by subject or by library
- Keep up with developments in your area of study
- Have articles from select databases delivered to your desktop
- Keep up to date with local and international news
How do I use RSS feeds?
To read RSS feeds, you need to install an RSS reader on your computer. An RSS reader is a piece of software that collects and displays RSS feeds in a central location. There are many RSS readers available on the market, some of which you must purchase and others which are free. A particular reader may or may not be compatible with your computer's operating system. A comprehensive list is available at the RSS Compendium - RSS Readers web site.
Bloglines, for example, is a free RSS reader, available on the web at http://www.bloglines.com/. This is an excellent service, accessible from any computer with an Internet connection.
Where can I find RSS feeds?
RSS feeds are available from news services, journals, blogs and web pages, including some of the UM Libraries' web pages. Look for RSS buttons (as shown above). You can also find RSS feeds of interest to you by searching directories like:
After installing an RSS reader and locating a site's RSS feed, you have to subscribe to the feed. To subscribe, right click the RSS button to copy the feed, and then paste it into your RSS reader. Alternatively, left click the RSS button, copy the URL from the page of code, and paste it into your RSS reader. Once you have subscribed to a feed, the RSS reader displays new content whenever it is added by a site. You can also set RSS readers to check feeds every 15 minutes or once a day, depending on the reader.
What about UM Libraries' RSS feeds?
The UM Libraries offers several RSS feeds. To keep up-to-date with new books, database searching tips and library training sessions subscribe to one or all of the Libraries' RSS feeds. Right click the RSS feed next to the title and click "copy shortcut." Or left click the link and copy the URL from the page of code that appears. Open your RSS reader and paste the URL into it.
