How RSS feeds can help library students

What is an RSS feed?

RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. RSS feeds provide a title and short summary of any new article on a website that you subscribe to- job websites, news websites, blogs, and a number of other types of websites. You can set up an RSS feed on your desktop, phone, or tablet to receive updates on multiple sites at once, without having to visit each site individually. RSS feeds are perfect time savers for busy students who want to stay current on job and LIS information.

How can it help you as a library science student?

RSS feeds can help library science students by creating a stream of new job postings from a variety of websites. For example, if you are interested in law libraries on the East Coast, you can customize your RSS feed to get updates from law library job posting websites as well as any local East Coast library job websites to get the largest amount of specific job postings as possible.

You can also use RSS feeds to stay up to date on library science news. This is particularly important for students who are job searching, becuase you want to be knowledgable about current professional news. There are many popular, interesting library science blogs by students and professionals which you can subscribe to in order to stay up to date.

How to set up your own RSS feed:

There are many different RSS feed providers. One of the most popular providers is Google Reader, which allows you to search for feeds, subscribe to them, and then create personal folders to sort your feeds. If you cannot find the website that you are thinking of in the search function, you can often find an RSS feed icon on individual websites, posted with other social media icons.

A few useful feeds:

RSS job websites:

ALA JobList: http://joblist.ala.org/index.cfm
LIBGig: http://publicboard.libgig.com/
Library Jobline: http://www.libraryjobline.org/
SLA Philadelphia Chapter: http://sla-phl.org/jobs/
NJSLA: http://sla-divisions.typepad.com/njslajobs/
Archives Gig: http://archivesgig.livejournal.com/

RSS library blogs

Hack Library School: http://hacklibschool.wordpress.com/
I Need a Library Job: http://inalj.com/
Hiring Librarians: http://hiringlibrarians.com/
Open Cover Letter: http://opencoverletters.com/
Information Space: http://infospace.ischool.syr.edu/

Information Tyranosaur: http://andyburkhardt.com/

Please comment other favorite LIS job or blog feeds below!

ALA's New Member Round Table

Wondering what ALA's New Member Round Table can do for you while you are still a library student? Here a just a few of the reasons why ALA recommends joining:

As students, you may not feel that you’re ready to become involved in professional associations, or that you won’t have anything to contribute until you have your degree and are working in the profession. However, NMRT urges you to reconsider and strongly encourages you to join. For only $10 a year, NMRT provides numerous benefits for those of us who are new to the profession, new to ALA, or both. These benefits include:

• 1.  Networking opportunities. Connect with other students, new professionals, and more experienced members through our listserv or in person at our conference socials.
  
• 2. Professional development. Through grants for conference attendance, opportunities for committee membership, and publication opportunities through the newsletter, Footnotes, NMRT helps you get a head start on your involvement in the profession.
  
• 3. Career planning and the job search. NMRT offers a resume review service in person at ALA conferences and virtually to NMRT members via email. Once you get that first job, NMRT will be there to help you navigate your new role through its mentoring service for new professionals.
  
• 4.  Making sense of ALA. As a new member, ALA may seem huge and confusing. NMRT helps you get a handle on your professional association through publications, conference orientations, and other resources.
  
  
  NMRT strongly values the contributions of its student members, and we hope that you don’t let any lack of experience hold you back from benefiting fully from your ALA membership. Join NMRT today at http://www.ala.org/nmrt/popularresources/getinvolved/joinnmrt
  

From ALA NMRT's SASCO Update #3

LinkedIn LinkUp!

Are you LinkedIn? Don't miss out on the connections you're making during school, your internship, at conferences and networking events.  Professional online presence is an important part of the job search and way to continue to network with colleagues and engage in the conversation of librarianship.

Take a few minutes to create or update your LinkedIn profile, connect to classmates and colleagues, or join a new group.  Read on for suggestions on how to get started and optimize your experience.

March Networking Opportunites in Philly - Starting Tonight!

SLA Downtowners Meetup
Dear SLA Philadelphia Professionals, Drexel SLA and ALA Student Chapter Members:  The March "First Friday" Downtowners casual networking event will be on the second Friday, March 9th (just for this month) at 6PM.  The venue is the Khyber Pass at 56 S. 2nd Street in Old City Philadelphia. Come out and enjoy the networking!  RSVP's helpful but not required: duslaonline@gmail.com

Drexel Library Student Social 
Join the library student groups for an informal social at Khyber Pass Pub. restaurant (56 S. 2nd St., Philadelphia, PA) on Friday, March 9 at 7:30 PM.  Come hang out with classmates, enjoy snacks and beverages, and meet the new officers of SCALA & DUSLA. RSVPs are appreciated, but not required. Please email drexelscala@gmail.com.

iSchool Networking Reception during PLA
Get it on the benefits of having PLA in Philly, whether you're registered for the conference or not.  The iSchool is hosting a networking reception on Wednesday, March 14 from 6:30-8:30 PM at The Field House (1150 Filbert Street - corner of 11th & Filbert) with appetizers, beer and wine (21+). This event is FREE but you do have to RSVP: https://www.ischool.drexel.edu/home/about/calendar/rsvp?ID=2154

#Phillybrarians Meet-Up 
Philly Librarians are gathering at Rising Tide in Chinatown on Saturday, March 17th at 1:30PM for post-PLA conversation, food and drinks. Here's your chance to eat at a great place in Chinatown, meet your fellow librarians, library students and library allies and network!  This is a sit-down lunch and RSVPs are required. Please contact Phillybrarians [at] gmail.com.

#Phillybrarians hold monthly meet-ups so even if you can't make it this time, join the Facebook group to learn about future events: https://www.facebook.com/phillybrarians