RSS Feeds in Libraries

"For those not yet convinced or still puzzled about Real Simple Syndication, consider that RSS removes the burden of having to do regular, static Web searching to keep current in your fields of interest. RSS allows for steady, dynamic Web content streaming into one location for your perusal, freeing up time to do other things."

-- Randy Reichardt

For an online internship, my supervisor asked me to subscribe to numerous green technology-themed blogs and websites via Google Reader and write blog posts based on subjects or themes that I found interesting. It's only until recently that I realized how easy Google Reader made following so many varied blogs and how fast it was to catch up on the latest news in a subject that I knew little about. The only downside was that a few of the feeds consisted of 100+ posts a day, which really was not conducive to browsing. But the ease of subscribing to the particular feeds and browsing daily through the newest posts through a relatively simple format was what stood out the most to me.

Similarly, libraries should be able to incorporate RSS feeds into both their outreach to patrons as well as their staff's own knowledge base. RSS feeds can be used by patrons to subscribe to content that interests them, whether it is about the newest items added into the library's collection, upcoming programs and events, or book-lists of recommended reading on a specific subject. Libraries that provide RSS feeds to their patrons acknowledge the growing important of Real Simple Syndication and the ease of browsing that it provides for patrons. While it would be nice if patrons visited the website every day in order to see what new events have been posted, it would not be practical for the patrons themselves. Allowing a feed for upcoming events could increase patron attendance by making it easier for them to keep up to date with what is happening at the library and allowing them to make time for it in their schedules.

RSS feeds for catalog searches and for patron library accounts are two other ways that libraries could incorporate this technology into their service. For example, the Seattle Public Library provides a RSS feed for a catalog search which will subsequently provide new materials matching the search criteria into their aggregator (Farkas, 2007). I could see many uses for this sort of feed, as many patrons have a specific subject that they are interested in and rather than visit the library and check the shelves, they could be notified when something new comes in that will be of interest to them and put a hold on it. This would also be faster than subscribing to the New Materials feed and browsing through it in its entirety. Lastly, while the library I currently work at already provides email reminders for library account updates, such as fines, arrived holds, and overdue items, RSS feeds that do this service would be helpful and save staff time.

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Farkas, M. G. (2007). Social software in libraries: Building collaboration, communication, and community online. New Jersey: Information Today, Inc.

Reichardt, R. Success story: RSS moves into the mainstream at the University of Alberta libraries. Library Connect, 3.2. Retrieved from http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/librariansinfo.librarians/lc030208.