Blogs can use RSS in two ways. One is to dynamically change displayed information within the blog using an external feed. The second way is to actually offer syndicated content to the reader of the blog. Through a subscription, a user might choose to be informed of news, events, new book lists, readers’ advisory lists, new resources and alerts. New content comes to the user instead of the user coming to it.
McMaster University:
A good example of extended use of RSS feeds is the Library News and Events blog at McMaster University. It is easy to get to…just one link away from the home page and it has multiple streams of information. In addition to reading the postings that list the latest events at the library, the user can elect to subscribe to a variety of information feeds in various subjects and for different resources such as new databases and new publications. In an academic environment where currency is paramount, an RSS feed can be invaluable to both students and staff. The McMaster News and Events blog is very accessible, just one link away from the library’s homepage. I would use this service. The only suggestion I might have for more function is that some libraries offer RSS feeds solely on keyword search (i.e. Hennepin County Library, as mentioned earlier)…this could allow even more customized alerts.
