What is RSS?

RSS means "Really Simple Syndication" or "Rich Site Summary." An RSS feed is simply a list of new information from a website. Not all websites offer RSS feeds but this service is becoming very popular.

Why should I care?

Using RSS, you can collect information in one place rather than visiting various websites. This will help you:

• Keep up with the news & weather
• Stay informed in your areas of study or interest
• Find new articles and books
• Save time!

RSS Readers

RSS feeds are collected by tools called RSS readers or aggregators. There are many choices but we recommend Bloglines for its ease of use. It is free and web-based so you won't need to install anything on your computer. This Bloglines Tutorial will help you get started.

A comprehensive list of RSS Readers is available at allrss.com.

How do I subscribe to RSS Feeds?

It's simple:

1. Find the feed
2. Copy the feed's URL (this is usually found in your browser address bar)
3. Paste the URL into your RSS reader

To find feeds:

• Look for the or RSS button on your favorite sites. Other popular terms include "Get Headlines" or "Syndicate this Site."
• Search for feeds of interest in an RSS directory such as Feedfinder. Bloglines also includes a directory of feeds.
• Start with these recommendations from Tri-College Librarians.
• The Tri-College Libraries offer New Books by Subject and Tri-College Library News as RSS feeds.

Questions about RSS? Please contact Kate Carter or Spencer Lamm