1. Blogging and RSS: Applications & Technology Examples from an Academic Library 16 June 2005 – CLA Conference, Calgary Randy Reichardt Science & Technology Library University of Alberta randy.reichardt@ualberta.ca http://stlq.info

2. Example 1: Student Blogging Mechanical, Chemical, Materials engineering design students, working in groups of four on capstone design projects Issue: team members live in different areas of the city, not always on campus; difficult to schedule meetings to discuss project Result: e-mails, text messaging, phone calls, instant messaging, etc; difficult to manage the design project Solution: try using a blog for project mgmt Minor Glitch: no campus-wide support as yet for blogs at U Alberta; needed to create tip sheet for students

8. Example 2: Library Blogging Blogs provide an option for team members to communicate, and for content management, including document storage, link listing, etc. University of Alberta Libraries – now using blogs for different applications, including library news, vendor announcements, Knowledge Common staff updates, information/reference desk updates, team management Support: Library tech staff loaded blogging software onto library LAN

14. Example 3: RSS in Db Searching Service: Engineering Village 2, which offers access to the Compendex db, which provides extensive coverage of all engineering disciplines, (available online from 1884-present) –also offers access to Inspec, NTIS Issue: Researchers need to know latest developments in their fields; options include e- mail alerts, running regular searchs, etc New option: EV2 offers RSS feeds

17. Restrict Search to Compendex Add “actuators” to search Too many results - 17,774 records!

18. 1,322 records found

19. This URL represents the RSS feed for the search, “microelectromechanical devices and actuators”, restricted to the Compendex db

27. Reichardt, Randy and Geoff Harder. 2005. “Weblogs: Their Use and Application in Science and Technology Libraries.” Science & Technology Libraries, 25(3): 105-116. Citation

28. Presentation available at: www.ualberta.ca/~science3/clablog.ppt