Week 4: The RSS highchair Feed

I am new to the table of RSS fed users. Watching the ‘how to' video at the beginning of this course helped me dive into the world of delivery information.

I was so excited the first time I only had to check my igoogle page for the most recent updates on class blogs and BBC news.

I like that RSS feeds provide me with immediate information from the sources I love with little to no effort.

How can librarians benefit from this type of service?

First, I agree with Steven Cohen, you can create user oriented feeds geared towards particular audiences in order to ‘hook' readers daily into library webspace.

Secondly, I believe RSS  is a burgeoning tool that can be used for information specialization. As stewards (and I use that term as lightly as I possibly can) of information retrieval, it is imperative that we dive into this relatively large, yet expanding, service.

I realize in the past libraries have mistaken some web 2.0 services (MSN Messenger as a reference desk) for new and exciting ways to reach the public; however, I believe this tool is far more relevant.

Sure it has its risks, but overall, as Robin Good states, "it gives back to the individual users the power to choose and select content." It is also timely, portable, and cost-effective. And yes, it WILL change the way we select and receive information updates.

While the focus tends to be on how libraries can showcase their institutional information, I think RSS feeds will play a greater role in library online organization of resources, especially in the science sphere (with high article and journal turnover rates).

**I also like that RSS feeds retain copyrite authority over your content as well as provide outside protection by username/authentication passwords.

Looking at the case studies, I initially liked Kansas City Public Library's organization of information by specific topic areas. In particular, the linkage between events taking place in the news and the information articles related to the event. The RSS feed tied to relevant authoritative materials from the library created a fantastic merge of media and background theory/history.

On a separate vein, Page Flakes from Dublin Public Libraries allowed users to personalize their library experience in a igoogle-esque way. Sharing online space with other public libraries provided additional interconnectivity between libraries across the city. I also liked the calendar of events but couldn't find any events listed. The historical postcards and press releases created a very different space for users to explore library feeds.

I'm still uncertain as to whether I prefer it.

With a Page Flakes type of website, classrooms should be brought to the library and tutored on how to navigate and personalize their own library page. Libraries should offer online tours (or ask classes to go to the library for a demonstration) so children can see what the library has to offer and get involved. It is no longer as simple as signing up for a library card.

I did find Hepburn County Library acted somewhat like a phone book listing. Sure it's a good source of information but it's not something that would catch your eye as far as interest sake.

At the Tacoma Public Library the RSS feed information and links were positioned under the research and reference section which I thought was a terrific spot for them. Again, layout seemed to be problematic. If RSS feeds are to be utilized on a widespread scale they need to be set out according to good web usability standards and practices.

A good example of this is the Oklahoma library site whose list does not need scrolling and already is surrounded by lots of white space.

Simply listing RSS feeds down the page reminds me of early Canadian Government "Cluster" sites which simple list a set of links the user may be interested in.

It tends to be incredibly boring and difficult to navigate.