RootsWeb offers RSS

RootsWeb's mailing list archives now come with RSS feeds. Now, I'll have to admit that I hadn't even noticed until Carol asked about the little orange button --> RSS <-- on the bottom of each archive summary page.

RSS is widely used by web servers as a means of distributing a summary of new content—in other words, providing a syndication of the site. RSS is most valuable for web sites which add new content frequently such as blogs. Obviously, the mailing list archives fit that criterion.

So how can you use the RSS feed from RootsWeb?

One way is to install an RSS/news reader or aggregators on your own computer. There are many, many programs available. I have installed Wizz RSS News Reader into my Firefox browser.

You can also use an online feed reader or aggregator and access it through your web browser. One advantage is that you can read your RSS subscriptions from any computer connected to the Internet. I use Bloglines.

But in addition to just using the RSS feed to monitor for updates, you can also include the feed right there in your web page. Since RootsWeb doesn't allow you to install programs on the server, some of the usual ways of including RSS feeds such as PHP and ASP routines won't work on your FreePages site. But, the Maricopa Center for Learning and Instruction provides a JavaScript generator that will churn out the JavaScript you can use in your webpage. I've added the feed for the Coleman-L surname mailing list to the right hand column of this page.