RSS (Really Simple Syndication) provides a way to keep up to date with new information. Many journal publishers and web sites have RSS feeds. They are convenient because:

• You can look at the most recent table of contents whenever you like
• Your email in-box is not overloaded with lots of alerts
• Links to your favourite journals are available in one place
• You can link directly to information about the articles on the e-journal site.

 

Look for the orange RSS feed icon on a webpage 

Try searching Google for a feed e.g. Nature RSS feed

To view the contents of RSS you will need to use a feed reader.  There are different types of feed readers:

• Web based readers e.g. Bloglines, My Yahoo!, Feedly
• Email based reader, e.g. Microsoft Outlook
• Browser built-in readers, e.g. Firefox, Internet Explorer - RSS feeds are incorporated under your favourites or live bookmarks.

Web based reader: Feedly

Download the App from the Google Chrome Web Store or download from the Feedly website. Create an account or sign in with your Gmail or Facebook account.

Help and online tutorials on using Feedly

Email based reader: Microsoft Outlook instructions

Use the desktop version of Microsoft Outlook to create the feed.  The feed can then be viewed on any device.

1. A default folder "RSS feeds" should appear with the rest of your email related folders.
    
2. Right-mouse click on the folder and select Add a new RSS feed

Alternatively:

1. Open Outlook 2010. Click File tab>Account Settings, and then click Account Settings.

2. On the RSS Feeds tab, click New.

3. In the New RSS Feed dialog box, type or paste the RSS Feed address

   

 

Browser Built-in Readers

Google Chrome instructions

1. Click on  from top left corner, and then click on to search for RSS feed reader

2. Choose this  and click on Add To Chrome

3. An RSS feeds icon  appears on top right corner of the Chrome bar

4. Click on the RSS icon from the tool bar to start adding new rss feed content

 

Firefox instructions

If you see either or in the bottom right of your Firefox browser window

This indicates that an RSS feed is available for the journal.

1. Click on the icon.

2. Make sure Live Bookmarks is selected and click Subscribe Now.

   

3. The RSS feed for the journal will appear in your bookmarks along with the most recent table of contents.

If you have a URL for the RSS feed:

Sometimes instead of an icon, the journal page will give you a URL for the RSS feed. If this is the case, you can set up the feed by copying the URL into your live bookmarks. Follow the below instructions:

1. Select Bookmarks - Organize Bookmarks from the Menu Bar

2. Click on the "File" menu bar and select "New Live Bookmark"

   

3. Enter a name for your feed, e.g. the name of the journal.

4. Cut and paste the URL for the RSS feed into the Feed Location box. You can do this by right-clicking on the RSS icon (or RSS link) and Copy the Link Location.

   

   The Feed will then be available under your Bookmarks with a link to the table of contents for the most recent issue of the journal.

IE7, IE8 or IE9 instructions

In IE7/8/9, this icon is in the icon bar in the top right of the browser screen. If the page you are interested in doesn't have a feed available this icon will be grey.

To subscribe an RSS feed

1. Click on the organge feed icon. It will take you to the rss feed page.
2. Click on Subscribe to this feed (in the yellow box at the top of the page).
3. Change the name of the feed if desired, then click on the Subscribe button.

To read the RSS feeds you have subscribed to

1. Go to your favourites (click on the yellow/orange star in the top left of the browser screen.
2. Click on the Feeds tab.
3. Click on the feed you want to read.
4. To read the full content from a headline click on the grey arrow beside the displayed date.