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Week 5: More on RSS
Last week we touched on some of the ways that RSS feeds can be used by individuals to receive information and news from online sources. This week we looked at how RSS can be used by libraries to provide timely and valuable information, outside of basic news and updates relating to the library itself.
I see a great service in being able to personalize RSS feeds for catalogue and database searches. After exploring this idea briefly last week and experimenting with Seattle Public Library's catalogue this week, I think this is a fantastic feature. It would be useful in any setting where there is a library catalogue or database, allowing users to keep track of relevant topics without navigating back to the catalogue/database repeatedly. I'm not sure if there is some obvious way to do this, but I wonder if Google or any other search engines have a similar feature to keep tabs on searches?
EBSCOhost is now providing not only RSS search alerts, but also journal alerts, as is ProQuest. Libraries can emphasize the value of these services and also ensure that locating and using these feeds is easy for users. RSS can facilitate the librarian's job, making sure that required information gets to a user, whether the information is directly required for research or for current awareness.
In addition to directing users to useful RSS feeds, a library can use software like Feed2JS to syndicate content from other sources on their own webpage. Feed2JS provides a means to display the content of a feed, rather than simply providing a feed link. I tested out the Feed2JS code from Hoover Public Library in a blog post here, and it was quite neat to see all of the feed content show up as part of my post!
There is a lot of potential for libraries to use this themselves, adding content from other sources onto their website, but also in creating their own feed code for others to syndicate on their websites. This would promote sharing of information and also create additional interest for the library's webpage. The more directly relevant the syndicated content is to the library's users, the more useful this service would be. Using the content from a feed in this way can raise a variety of copyright issues, however, and I wonder if there are (or should be!) limits to how such content is used.
As a final note, I just clued in that I can use an RSS feed for our del.icio.us lis9763 tag to keep up with what everyone else is tagging! Thanks to Hollenback. I'm not sure why I didn't make the connection earlier! Among the many ways libraries could use RSS, using del.icio.us would be a really neat way to create an online pathfinder for library resources and subject-related (authoritative!) webpages.
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Hi Aysha, you're right about the potential for information sharing on library websites. Creating interest by expanding the libraries information base will keep users up-to-date on all sorts of information.
Like at the U of A library where the consortium there has combined forces — this becomes a really powerful way to streamline information.
The one thing that librarians should keep in mind with all of these new electronic pathfinders is that providing instruction to patrons on how to best use these technologies will be necessary to use them effectively.
Ashya,
your right to consider copyright Provided the library includes background information and a link showing the context most people and organizations will agree. - especially as the library is offering them free publicity and it could only increase the number of people who subscribe to the feed.
Regards
Greg
You make an interesting point about the concern for copyright when dealing with this sort of information. In the digital age it really is of vital importance that those who work professionally keep track of what sources they're using and how they use them. Libraries, especially, hold an important role in that regard, I think, since we are the people who are supposed to disseminate information and help people become information literate.
Whether you are for- or against copyright legislation, I do think libraries have to be very careful to use Web 2.0 technology with the same care and respect as they would use any other "published" work.
Great point!
"Everything I say is a lie...
... in fact, I'm lying to you right now..."
Also, props for your point about the consideration of copyright in the web 2.0 world, especially with relation to RSS feeds and implementation of syndicated content displays like feed2js.
This topic also came up in the weekly class chat and it was interesting to hear others' opinions. I am of the mind that most people who post content on public sites like blogs, etc. would be okay with the syndication of that content on other sites (and as another commenter pointed out would likely work to improve readership of the original site - something they likely wouldn't complain about).
But as one of the articles mentioned this week, I began to wonder about RSS feeds for content that might have issues with intellectual property (and possibly privacy) rights...for example a site like Flickr. Many people post personal photos there and if a library were to implement a feed2js RSS of Flickr photos with the tag 'nature,' for instance, copyright may be a very valid concern. Of course, many savvy Flickr users are quite happy to share their work and have posted content under Creative Commons licenses, which (in most cases) allows content to be re-used as long as it is not for profit (under which I imagine a library would fall).
As ever, we must use our noggins when practicing selection of library materials...be they books or even RSS feeds.
Great post!