Murdoch University Catalogue | Journal Articles & Databases | Ask a Librarian
Library

 

 

About RSS

What is RSS?

RSS (or Really Simple Syndication) is a way to deliver frequently updated content such as blog entries, news headlines, images, weather forecasts and podcasts. Instead of you visiting a website or journal to see whether there is any updated material, the updates come straight to you as soon as they are made.

This symbol on a website indicates that an RSS update is available: RSS
If you click on the symbol, you can subscribe to new content from that site. All updates will be sent to your RSS reader.

This video clip by the Commoncraft Show quickly and simply explains RSS – RSS in Plain English

RSS Readers

RSS Readers “catch” and organise your RSS subscriptions. They let you save and manipulate the information in a much more sophisticated way than email. The RSS reader does all the work with setting up the subscription, so you don’t have to provide any identifying personal information to the site that is sending you information via RSS.

There are many RSS readers available. They are sometimes called “aggregators”. Below are the most common and useful RSS readers.

On the Web

Web based RSS readers can be accessed from any device that has access to the web. You generally can only read the information when you have a web connection.

Google Reader is available to everyone who signs up to a free gmail. Google Reader is probably the easiest way to organise and read RSS feeds.

Bloglines is a site devoted only to helping you read and organise your RSS feeds. You have your own private profile, but can share information with others if you like.

In your browser

The RSS reader in your web browser is very convenient and easy to use, but it only saves feeds to the browser on just one PC.

Both Firefox and Internet Explorer detect whether a webpage has an RSS feed available by displaying an RSS symbol in the address bar.

Clicking on the little RSS symbol in the bar will let you add the feed to a bookmarks folder in the browser.

In your email client

An RSS reader in your email client gives you just one place to go to check both new email and new RSS subscriptions. An RSS reader in an email client does not have so many features to allow you to organise and retrieve information.

Windows Outlook 2007 has an inbuilt RSS reader. It looks like an extra email box.

How to Add an RSS Feed

Look for the RSS Symbol, or a hotlink with wording like “subscribe to this feed”.
  1. Click on the RSS icon either on the webpage or in the address bar of your browser. You will then be asked to confirm which RSS reader you want to use to subscribe, or:
  2. Find the “Add Subscriptions” option in your RSS reader. Go to the RSS symbol or link and right click and chose to save the link location. Paste this link into the “Add subscription” box in your RSS reader.

Some Sites with RSS Feeds

  • New photos on image sharing site, Flickr
  • New videos on a subject you select on YouTube
  • News updates on the Murdoch University home page
  • New books in the Murdoch library in selected subject areas

More Help with RSS

For help subscribing to RSS feeds, please contact the Library's Reference Service Ask a Librarian.
Murdoch University | Copyright & Disclaimer | Feedback | CRICOS Code: 00125J | Page Information