Keeping up to date is an important part of academic research. This guide outlines a range of tools you can use to keep up to date. Contact your Subject Librarian for specialist advice and help. 

Topic: You are alerted whenever new articles matching your search terms are published.

Table of Contents (TOC): You are alerted whenever new table of contents are published for selected journals.

Citation: You are alerted whenever a new article cites another article. The following databases provide a citation alert feature: Google Scholar, ScienceDirect

To set up an alert on Google Scholar:

• Type in keywords to describe your topic.
• On the Search Results page, click Create Alert on the left hand side of the screen.

• You can also use Google Scholar to set up citation alerts and to follow authors who have a Google Scholar profile. 
• More information on setting up alerts in Google Scholar
• Video: Creating alerts in Google Scholar

Alerts can be sent to you via:

• email and/or

• RSS (Really Simple Syndication) 

Most publishers and databases offer both options.

RSS

RSS alerts are collated and sent to your nominated RSS reader. 

There are different types of readers:

• Email based reader, e.g. Microsoft Outlook
• Apps to collect and read feeds, e.g. Feedly

How to set up RSS

Websites that have an RSS feed will have an RSS feed icon   or 

Click on the icon to see the RSS feed.  You will then need to copy the URL for the RSS feed into your RSS reader.

Web based reader: Feedly

Various RSS Reader Apps can be downloaded from the Chrome Web Store or Mac App Store. Feedly is a good option if you are wanting to be alerted to websites or blog content. 

Email based reader: Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Outlook RSS feed reader works best for Library subscribed content.  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 Subscriptions" should appear with the rest of your email folders.
    
2. Right-mouse click on the folder and select Add a new RSS feed
    
3. Copy and paste the URL for the RSS feed and click Add to add the feed to your RSS folder

More information: Microsoft Outlook and RSS feeds

Video: Creating RSS feeds in MultiSearch

Kerry Gilmour  

Phone: +6433693933

Many researchers use Twitter to share and promote their research.  Use Twitter to:

• Follow researchers, journals or organisations in your research area
• Keep up to date with social media postings from conferences.
• Share research with others.  
• Improve your research impact.  Learn more about Altmetrics

 The following are examples of academic research communities that enable researchers to post and share research. You can use them to find and follow people with similar research interests. 

• ResearchGate 
• Academia.edu
• Mendeley
• Zotero

Using social media as an academic: Ways to create a sense of community and boost your profile

Using Twitter in university research, teaching and impact activities: A guide for academics and researchers