Thing 5: RSS Feeds & Readers

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a file format for delivering frequently updated and dynamic web content directly to the reader like a newspaper. It is used for news, blogs, journals, databases and more. It delivers headlines from which you may choose to read a full posting. It is typically represented as an orange symbol.

This week’s exercise focuses on learning about RSS news feeds and setting up a Bloglines account to bring feeds of interest to you together.

[If you prefer to use Google Reader, MyYahoo, or something else, use your blog to talk about it.]

1. Go to Bloglines and set up your personal account.

2. Subscribe to the RSS feed for the 10 Things or So Exercises blog.

• Go to your Bloglines account.


• Click on the 'Add' button on the left side of the screen.


• Copy and paste http://ucilib-10things-exercises.blogspot.com/ into the "Blog or Feed URL" box.


• Click subscribe.

• Click the box next to the first choice on the next screen and click continue.

Check the Helene Blowers’ YouTube Add RSS feeds to Bloglines for a video on how to do this, if you would like a visual demonstration.

3. Subscribe to at least 2 of the RSS feeds listed as example blogs, OR find one of your own interest using Bloglines. Here's how to do it in Bloglines.

• Click on the 'Add' button (depending on where you are in the program, this may be a tab) in the left side of the screen.

• Type in the box in the upper right side something like Los Angeles Times.

• Use the pulldown menu to its right to choose, Search for Feeds.

• Choose from among the results.

• Preview the results and based on your impressions

• Subscribe.

4. Try to locate a database, such one by Ebsco like LISTA or a library catalog, to see if they offer RSS feeds to set up an alert. (Hint: Look for RSS, XML or the following symbol)

5. Create a post in your blog about this exercise.

Finding Your Public Bloglines URL:

1. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the feeds tab on the left, and look for Share.