Updating Service
Apart from RSS feeds librarians use e-mail alert services for their Intranet. The librarians continually scan the relevant literature and create news updates, which are regularly delivered to interested staff members. The information is archived and searchable on the company’s Intranet.
Some libraries use XML RSS feeds to offer additional library services via the library web site. These feeds are used to deliver web content to targeted user groups who have specific information needs. In the special library this information may include updated guidelines, current awareness news, table of contents, podcasts for continuing education, research articles on specific topics, library news, the latest library books, and organizational reports and information.
What are RSS Feeds?
RSS, Really Simple Syndication or Rich Site Summary, allows a producer of information to broadcast the information across an Intranet or the Internet. It is created using XML language, an extensible markup language. XML allows the information producer to “tag” information creating metadata (data about data). The creation of metadata allows the specific information to be pulled from the document, converted into a script and displayed on a web page. XML RSS feeds can also be read through an RSS Reader. Some of these readers include Newsgator, FeedBurner, Bloglines, Internet Provider’s personal home pages, Google Reader and the latest version of Internet Explorer.