Resource Review #8: How to Explain RSS the Oprah way!

http://www.backinskinnyjeans.com/2006/09/how_to_explain_.html

Wow! What a great way to finish up my resource reviews: the Oprah way! This article provided a wonderful perspective on how RSS is perceived and interpreted in popular culture. Posted September 21st, 2006 by Stephanie Quilao, this article describes what RSS is, why you want to use it, and how to set up an RSS reader.

What's most interesting about this post is the language with which she describes technology. After reading scholarly journal articles, studies and blogs of technology experts, the terminology Quillao used to describe digital tools was slightly humorous, but very interesting and revealing of a population's relationship with technology.

First, she explains that RSS in "Oprah speak" means "Ready for Some Stories." She also describes different Internet browsers and feeders as different "flavors of the same thing...the flavors are only important if you want to get techie." The post goes to include many more of these Oprah translations, and the end of the post there are 50 comments, all of them praising Quillao for her simple, easy-to-understand explanation of RSS feeds. Here are just a few "Now I know how to explain this to my dad :)!, This is such a terrific and simple explanation of RSS...thanks. Every time someone stares blankly at me when I use the term, I now know where to send them!, I'm not sure why it has taken years for someone to explain RSS in simple terms. Thank you for "The Oprah Way."

I know this resource is a bit dated, but I think that being in the Library and Information Field, dominated by technology, we forget about populations of non-users. Especially in relation to working in the public library sector, a librarian must be aware of a user's technological knowledge base and cater to that level in order to be properly provide effective service to the public. We must be creative and intuitive teachers.