You’ve heard co-workers and acquaintances swear by it, but still have no idea what RSS is. Well, you’re not alone.
RSS is not only revolutionizing the way news and content creators share information, but it is swiftly changing the way everyday users consume information.
RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication” and is written in XML that works behind the scenes for sharing web content. It allows users to view updated web content with a reader (also called an aggregator), without visiting every web site looking for the new content. The RSS reader checks Web sites to which you have subscribed, and then displays new or updated content in your reader.
RSS readers come in four basic forms.
- Built into a Web browser (Mozilla Firefox and Internet Explorer)
- Built into an email program (Microsoft Outlook and Thunderbird)
- As a standalone program that you download (SharpReader or RSSOwl)
- Web-based (Bloglines or Google Reader). Reader type number 4 is my preferred kind of reader: a web-based RSS reader that requires no software installation. By using a web-based reader, you can access your RSS feeds from any computer connected to the Internet.
This web site contains links to resources offering the following resources.
- More detailed explanations of RSS feeds.
- Demonstrations and instructions for making links from RSS feeds to a RSS feed reader.
- Sources of RSS feeds from library and non-library blogs and other Web sites.
- Demonstrations and instructions making RSS feed links in your blog. This would allow others to get RSS feeds from your site.
Action Activities
- Subscribe to two RSS feeds.
- Set up an RSS feed on your blog others can use to subscribe to your content.
