Keeping up to date with research - alerting services
Email alerts and RSS feeds are two commonly available services which help you keep up to date with current literature in your discipline. You are notified when new content matching your criteria becomes available.
What is an email alert?
Email alerts usually require you to create a personal login and password through a specific service or database. Once you've set up your alerts, they arrive as email messages in your inbox.
What is an RSS feed?
RSS feeds arrive as messages within your RSS Feed Reader.
RSS (or Really Simple Syndication) is a way to deliver frequently updated content such as blog entries, news headlines, images, weather forecasts and podcasts. Check your RSS Feed Reader to find all the updates in one place instead of visiting each website or journal to see whether there is any updated material.
This symbol on a website indicates that an RSS update is available: 
If you click on the symbol or link, you can subscribe to new content from that site. All updates will be sent to your RSS reader.
This video clip, RSS in Plain English, by Common Craft quickly and simply explains RSS.
RSS feeds from the Library
The Library’s Findit search interface offers an RSS feed option which allows you to get updates on specific keyword searches.
The Library also offers RSS feeds of new books in your subject area.
How do I get started?
Choose an RSS Feed ReaderRSS Readers “catch” and organise your RSS subscriptions. They let you save and manipulate the information in a much more sophisticated way than email. |
Some examples of RSS Feed Readers:
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Find New Content AlertsMany library databases allow you to set up email alerts and RSS feeds for content added to your favourite journals. Look for links like these on the journal webpage, or for the RSS icon |
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Find Saved Search AlertsMany library databases allow you to save searches in your area of interest. These searches are run automatically on a regular basis and references matching your search are then emailed to you. |
Further Questions?
For further details or advice, please contact your Liaison or Subject Librarian, or connect to the journal publisher or database of your choice from the Library's web pages and look for details on setting up RSS feeds and alerts.
