RSSRSSTim StanilandTim Staniland

Assistant LibrarianAssistant LibrarianNorthern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustNorthern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Keeping clinicians up to date.Keeping clinicians up to date.

What are RSS feeds?What are RSS feeds?

How do I read them?How do I read them?

Where can I find RSS feeds?Where can I find RSS feeds?

What do they look like?What do they look like?

Adding a feed to your chosen reader.Adding a feed to your chosen reader.

My Library – National Library for My Library – National Library for Health.Health.

TDNet!TDNet!

Feeds that may interest you.Feeds that may interest you.

If a clinician read one article a day, they would If a clinician read one article a day, they would be 55 centuries behind after 1 year.be 55 centuries behind after 1 year.

Sackett DL, Haynes RB, Guyatt GH, et al. Clinical epidemiology: a basic science for clinical medicine. 2Sackett DL, Haynes RB, Guyatt GH, et al. Clinical epidemiology: a basic science for clinical medicine. 2ndnd ed. ed. Boston: Little, Brown, 1991Boston: Little, Brown, 1991

A few ways to help clinicians keep A few ways to help clinicians keep up to dateup to date

Email ToCs alertsEmail ToCs alerts

Produce bulletins for specialitiesProduce bulletins for specialities

Perform literature searchesPerform literature searches

Circulate new book listsCirculate new book lists

Email specialist groups with latest updatesEmail specialist groups with latest updates

NLH specialist librariesNLH specialist libraries

Visit specialist websites regularlyVisit specialist websites regularly

ProblemsProblemsEmail – busy clinicians are often swamped by Email – busy clinicians are often swamped by emails, and may delete without reading.emails, and may delete without reading.Bulletins – labour intensive; rely on the librarian Bulletins – labour intensive; rely on the librarian to ‘choose’ relevant material.to ‘choose’ relevant material.Lit searches – would be very labour intensive if Lit searches – would be very labour intensive if they were done for everybody.they were done for everybody.New book lists – not very current by their very New book lists – not very current by their very nature.nature.NLH specialist libraries – rely on clinicians NLH specialist libraries – rely on clinicians knowing what is available and where to find it.knowing what is available and where to find it.Visiting the same websites to see if there is Visiting the same websites to see if there is anything new or updated is time and labour anything new or updated is time and labour intensive.intensive.

Solution?Solution?

What if you could have the latest articles in What if you could have the latest articles in your interest area delivered to your your interest area delivered to your desktop as soon as it is made available?desktop as soon as it is made available?

RSS feeds could provide the answer!RSS feeds could provide the answer!

What are RSS feeds?What are RSS feeds?

RSS - Really Simple Syndication.RSS - Really Simple Syndication.

OR Rich Site SummaryOR Rich Site Summary

OR RDF OR RDF (Resource Description Framework)(Resource Description Framework) Site Summary Site Summary

You may see ATOM feed – treat as the You may see ATOM feed – treat as the same as RSSsame as RSS

RSS feeds are an XML-based RSS feeds are an XML-based (extensible markup language) format for (extensible markup language) format for sharing and distributing web content. sharing and distributing web content.

BMJBMJ

How do you receive RSS feeds?How do you receive RSS feeds?

An RSS reader (sometimes called a An RSS reader (sometimes called a newsreader or news aggregator), allows newsreader or news aggregator), allows you to receive and view feeds from various you to receive and view feeds from various sources in a single interface. The reader sources in a single interface. The reader checks the feeds regularly and displays checks the feeds regularly and displays any updated content it finds. any updated content it finds. Readers can be web based eg Google Readers can be web based eg Google reader, NLH.reader, NLH.Readers can be a piece of software on Readers can be a piece of software on your desktop eg SharpReader.your desktop eg SharpReader.

Which reader to use?Which reader to use?

The choice of reader is a personal one.The choice of reader is a personal one.

Pros and cons to each approach.Pros and cons to each approach.

Web based readers have the advantage of Web based readers have the advantage of being accessible from any internet being accessible from any internet enabled PC.enabled PC.

Desktop feed readers are often less Desktop feed readers are often less obtrusive and can offer increased obtrusive and can offer increased functionality.functionality.

NLH My LibraryNLH My Library

ProsPros My library – easy to set up feeds My library – easy to set up feeds Athens authenticated – seamless (!) accessAthens authenticated – seamless (!) access Single interfaceSingle interface

ConsCons Limited functionalityLimited functionality 4 items by default4 items by default Requires another click to see all items from a Requires another click to see all items from a

feedfeed

Try Wiikipedia or Google when looking for a feed reader.

Akregator Akregator AOL Explorer AOL Explorer Avant Browser Avant Browser Blam! Blam! BlogBridge BlogBridge BottomFeeder BottomFeeder Claws Mail Claws Mail Cooliris Cooliris FeedBeast FeedBeast FeedDemon FeedDemon FeedGhost FeedGhost Feedreader Feedreader FeedviewFeedviewFlock Flock FreeRange WebReader FreeRange WebReader Gnus Gnus Hubdog Hubdog IBM Lotus Notes IBM Lotus Notes Internet Explorer Internet Explorer K-Meleon K-Meleon Liferea Liferea Mail Mail Maxthon Maxthon mDigger mDigger Mercury Messenger Mercury Messenger Microsoft Office Outlook Microsoft Office Outlook Mindity Mindity

Mozilla Thunderbird Mozilla Thunderbird NetNewsWire NetNewsWire Netscape Browser Netscape Browser Netscape Navigator 9 Netscape Navigator 9 NewsAccess NewsAccess NewsBreak NewsBreak Newsbeuter Newsbeuter NewsFire NewsFire NewsFox NewsFox Omea Omea OmniWeb OmniWeb Opera Mail Opera Mail Pegasus Mail Pegasus Mail RSS Bandit RSS Bandit RSSOwl RSSOwl Safari Safari SageSageSeaMonkey SeaMonkey Shiira Shiira Sleipnir Sleipnir Snarfer Snarfer The Bat! The Bat! Thinfeeder Thinfeeder Vienna Vienna Windows Live Mail Windows Live Mail Windows Mail Windows Mail Zimbra Zimbra

Finding a feedFinding a feed

What to look for:What to look for:

Where to find a feedWhere to find a feed

TDNetTDNet

NLH feed directory NLH feed directory

Journal homepageJournal homepage

Keep your eyes peeled!Keep your eyes peeled!

NLH My LibraryNLH My LibraryAdding a feedAdding a feed

http://www.library.nhs.uhttp://www.library.nhs.uk/mylibrary/k/mylibrary/

BMJ BMJ

JAMA - Journal of the AJAMA - Journal of the American Medical Associmerican Medical Associationation

Google reader adding a feedGoogle reader adding a feed

www.google.comwww.google.com

www.bmj.com/rss/latest.xml

TDNetTDNet

Your one-stop shop for locating health Your one-stop shop for locating health related RSS feeds.related RSS feeds.

Add them to My Library quickly and easily.Add them to My Library quickly and easily.

They do have drawbacks however – but I They do have drawbacks however – but I am assured that these issues will be am assured that these issues will be addressed in time.addressed in time.

TDNetTDNet

Feeds that may be of interest to youFeeds that may be of interest to you

Information Technology & LibrariesInformation Technology & Libraries

He@lth Information on the Internet He@lth Information on the Internet

Computers in LibrariesComputers in Libraries

NHS Articles from MicrosoftNHS Articles from Microsoft www.microsoft.com/uk/nhs/rss.aspxwww.microsoft.com/uk/nhs/rss.aspx

Check TDNet for ‘libraries’ or ‘information’Check TDNet for ‘libraries’ or ‘information’ Go to the hosting site and see if they provide Go to the hosting site and see if they provide

a feed ie Ebsco, Proquest.a feed ie Ebsco, Proquest.

Setting up a current awareness Setting up a current awareness service using RSS feedsservice using RSS feeds

Information Services INSIDEInformation Services INSIDE (Integrating (Integrating News Sources In Desktop Environments) News Sources In Desktop Environments) is a project using RSS and Atom feeds to is a project using RSS and Atom feeds to deliver current awareness information into deliver current awareness information into the intranet sites which users already the intranet sites which users already visit. visit. 

Questions?Questions?