Q: What is RSS?

A. It's not just more e-mail!

RSS, Really Simple Syndication, is a file format that allows the public to access a particular Web site’s news without constantly visiting the site. RSS “feeds” are essentially headlines and brief summaries with links to the full text.

You will find RSS feeds on Web logs as well as on many business, technology, news, entertainment, sports, and library sites. Usually feeds are found on the news section of a site.

You control the feeds you receive through your subscriptions.

Q: How do I get the Penn College RSS feed at home?

A: First, you will need an RSS reader – a “news aggregator” – that converts RSS feeds into a format that an RSS reader can display.

A wide range of RSS readers can be easily downloaded from the Internet. Some readers are Web-based while others require you to download a small software program. Also, some browsers now incorporate an RSS reader. Wikipedia maintains a list of news aggregators.

Second, after installing an RSS reader, subscribe to PCToday’s RSS feed.

Copy PCToday’s RSS feed address (http://www.pct.edu/pctoday/rss.xml) into the subscription area of your RSS reader, or select the icon on the PCToday navigation bar.

See your RSS reader for specific instructions.

For Penn College-owned computers, RSS feed capabilities are being built into the newest version of Internet Explorer. IE7 is in testing and will be available to staff/faculty soon.

Q: Does it cost anything?

A: The PCToday feed is free. Most readers also are free.

Q: What about my privacy? Am I giving away personal information when I sign up for an RSS feed?

A: Your privacy is protected. Clicking on the icon allows you to receive the PCToday feed, but it does not provide us with any information about you.