I remember the exact moment that I became interested in the potential of RSS for research. I'd been familiar with RSS for several years and played around with feeds a bit, but RSS just wasn't thrilling me. Then I read Steven Cohen's article in Information Outlook, "The RSS revolution: Using RSS: An Explanation and Guide." When he said that he monitored news on a particular company via RSS I was hooked. My only complaint? He didn't detail how to do so in that particular article. But that's okay....he wrote a book!
Keeping Current: Advanced Internet Strategies to Meet Librarian and Patron Needs is a relatively short book with a long title; and it's chock-full of useful information on how to find current information on the web.
The book includes suggestions on current awareness sources for librarians including how to keep up on search engine developments, as well as information on reading and/or creating a blog. As he points out, creating a blog is one of the best ways to stay current on the web: "Although reading weblogs alone may allow one to keep current, librarians who write weblogs may tend to get more out of the material in that they are spending more time collecting the content, analyzing the materials and putting down their thoughts about it." He's right on the money; I consider that one of the biggest benefits to blogging.
Particularly useful are the chapters on web site monitoring and RSS feeds. The details on using Moreover content to monitor news on a company are included, as well as information on Hubmed for keeping current on medical research.
Things are changing fast in this area, which makes print publications almost immediately obsolete. So act fast...though sources for current information are increasing rapidly, the information in this book is still current and valuable. You can also supplement it with Steven Cohen's blog, LibraryStuff.
Steven definitely deserves the title, "Mover and Shaker".
Keeping Current: Advanced Internet Strategies to Meet Librarian and Patron Needs
by Steven M. Cohen
Aww Gee, thanks!!!