RSS - Customized Information at your fingertips

Using RSS

This course acted as the impetus for me to finally try RSS and Google Reader. Within minutes I had a personalized information stream. Google reader automatically provides updates to the various websites I follow. This saves time, allowing me to follow more websites.

While I appreciate the benefits, I identified some areas that could use improvement.  RSS feed featuring many updates in a small timeframe, half of which are updates to previous stories, can be annoying as the user is overwhelmed by information.

I don't need fifty news updates or 24 separate weather updates. What I need is a RSS feed that provides current information. News agencies should consider developing story-specific RSS feeds for breaking or ongoing news stories.

RSS vs. Atom

As noted in RSS Tutorial for Content Publishers and Webmasters, by Mark Nottingham, there are several incompatible versions of RSS.  This creates problems for users and developers who want to create or receive information using this technology.

 An examination of the "family tree" of syndication formats found at Wikipedia. indicates that RSS and Atom are both "descendents" from Meta Content Framework created by Ramanathan Guha while working for Apple. To avoid format incompatibilities, website and software developers utilize RSS and Atom to better serve their customers better.

Using RSS in a library

The Kansas City Public Library and the Tacoma Public Library  websites provide excellent examples of how public libraries can provide a wide range of services to their patrons using RSS feeds. Both libraries have feeds for specific interests, as well as several that would be of a more general interest to patrons. The Ottawa Public Library's RSS webpage shows how one Canadian library has created a customizable RSS feed for their patrons.  For example, I can create a RSS feed that tells me about new mystery novels at my local branch. These customizable RSS feeds maximize the library's ability to serve the various interests of different groups of patrons by delivering "on demand" information about the library.