Blogs and health libraries – Week 2

This course has introduced me to blogging and although I still need some convincing regarding their usefulness in the workplace, I think the process of setting one up and beginning to use it has given me some ideas.  I had previously struggled to find relevant information to help me set up a free RSS feed for our library service website.  However, the readings this week and last have shown that a blog can do the job as long as it has the functionality of generating RSS feeds.  I’ll definitely be doing some testing.  I don’t expect library users to subscribe to the blog, (I still think that is a very limited market!) but if I can display it as a feed on our website it could replace our outdated and static ‘What’s New’ feature.  I also think blogs could be a cheap and easy way to produce current awareness bulletins – again if they can be exported to websites.  Just thoughts for now, but I’ll certainly be playing around and testing.

3 introductory RSS feeds for cardiologists

Medscape Cardiology Headlines

Medscape is a well-respected, global information and educational service.  The Cardiology Headlines RSS feed provides daily links to news stories, new research findings, conference reports and CPD tools.  The content has a US bias but its breadth of coverage makes it an invaluable tool for keeping abreast of latest developments in the field of cardiology.

National Electronic Library for Medicine news - Cardiology

NELM provides information on medicines and supports prescribing practice in the NHS.  It therefore has a UK focus which Medscape lacks.  The Cardiology RSS news service is written by Medicines Informatiuon pharmacists in the NHS and scans peer-reviewed journals and approved news and government websites for relevant content.

 Heart Online First

An invaluable feed for all those who wish to keep up to date with the very latest research in their field.  This feed provides details of research due to be published in future issues of Heart, the international, peer-reviewed journal published by BMJ Publishing Group.

Up and running at last

Well I’m already 2 days behind with the course but at least I’ve finally got my blog started!  I’m still not sure what I’m doing with blogs so I’m a bit worried about tackling RSS as well this week.  There’s nothing like jumping in at the deep end though and I’m really looking forward to having a go with lots of new technologies that under other circumstances I wouldn’t find time explore.