Creating a Current Awareness Service Using Yahoo! Pipes and LibGuides

Abstract

Migration from print to electronic journals brought an end to traditional current awareness services, which primarily used print routing. The emergence of Real Simple Syndication, or RSS feeds, and email alerting systems provided users with alternative services. To assist users with adopting these technologies, a service utilizing aggregate feeds to the library's electronic journal content was created and made available through LibGuides. Libraries can reestablish current awareness services using existing technologies to increase awareness and usage of library--provided electronic journal content. The current awareness service presented is an example of how libraries can build basic current awareness services utilizing freely accessible technologies. CURRENT AWARENESS SERVICESLibrary current awareness services, commonly referred to as "table of contents" services, historically involved the dissemination of information in the form of print journals or photocopied journal contents routed to library users subscribed to the service. 1,2 These services have been particularly popular among corporate, law, and hospital libraries, which routinely route serials to primarily internal clients. While these paper--based services are still offered at some libraries, most shifted to an electronic model of service with the migration to electronic journals.

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