Post on 18-Dec-2015
Blogging and RSS: Applications & Technology
Examples from an Academic Library
16 June 2005 – CLA Conference, Calgary
Randy ReichardtScience & Technology Library
University of Albertarandy.reichardt@ualberta.ca
http://stlq.info
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
A. Guidelines for setting up a Blog based on Blogger.com, but hosted on the U of A GPU server.
1. Open Notepad, and create and save a blank file called name.html, where “name” is a short name for your blog (like design.htm, or mece465.html, etc.)
2. Establish presence on UA server: a. Login to your GPU account using PuTTY (SSH program) b. “Quit” to system prompt (press “Q”) c. Follow instructions below, which are also listed on the linked page; (Skip Step 1
– you are not creating your own web page at this time) http: / /www.ualberta.ca/HELP/www/makewebpages.html:
i. login to your GPU account using Putty ii. quit to the system prompt, and type: / etc/ skel/ getdotfiles iii. logout and login again iv. type mkdir public_ html, and hit Enter; skip this step if you already
have a public_ html directory in your account v. type fs setacl ~your-CNS-ID system:anyuser l, and hit enter (use
your CNS ID) vi. type fs setacl public_ html system:anyuser read, and hit Enter
d. note in Step 2 that you will create a directory in your GPU account called public_ html
e. Transfer the name.html file to your public_ html directory using a file transfer program, WinSCP
3. Create a blog using Blogger.com a. Go to Blogger.com b. Create an account if not done already c. Log in to Blogger.com
4. Go to Advanced Blog Setup a. NOTE: This step is done by one member of the group only, the member whose
server space on his or her GPU account will host the blog b. Blog details:
i. Choose a title for your blog ii. Chose “Do not list” (privacy)
c. Server details i. Choose SFTP ii. FTP server: gpu.srv.ualberta.ca iii. FTP path: public_html/ iv. Blog filename: name.html v. Blog URL: http: / /www.ualberta.ca/~yourid/name.html
1. yourid=your CNS id 5. Choose a template 6. After a template is chosen, go to “Settings”, click on “Members”, to add individual
members to the blog. 7. Blog setup complete
B. Posting and configuring your blog
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
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
This URL represents the RSS feed for the search, “microelectromechanical devices and actuators”,
restricted to the Compendex db
• Reichardt, Randy and Geoff Harder. 2005. “Weblogs: Their Use and Application in Science and Technology Libraries.” Science & Technology Libraries, 25(3): 105-116.
Citation