Despite the confusion about what RSS actually stands for, its usefulness is not in debate. RSS is a format for syndicating content on the web, allowing website publishers to easily distribute headlines to other websites or portals. RSS offers many opportunities to improve the web presence of libraries, allowing them to easily share news, new books, announcements, and more across the web. This talk will cover the basics of creating, finding and viewing RSS feeds, with libraries as a focus.

The Memorial University of Newfoundland Digital Archives Initiative (DAI) is a new project managed jointly by the Faculty of Arts and the Libraries on behalf of the University. The DAI will contribute toward the preservation of Newfoundland culture through the digitization of a variety of multi-media collections (audio, video, image and print) currently housed in the Folklore, Maritime History and the Centre for Newfoundland Studies Archives. The session will describe the project with respect to the requirements associated with the selection of a Digital Archives Management system.

From animated slides to video captures to interactive games and tutorials, web animation can add new dimensions to any library site. Looking at Macromedia Flash and other software, this presentation will provide an introduction to creating animated files for your website.

Surveys are essential tools that can produce actionable results. Survey software can be installed and used by any library. Options are also available for libraries to participate, for a fee, in surveys managed off-site. This presentation will look at open source survey software as well as fee-based software such as the Association of Research Libraries' LibQUAL+(tm). Participants will learn strategies, logistics, benefits LibQUAL+and pitfalls of surveying your customer base.

The word "Portal" has been kicked vaguely around the web for years. A portal is primarily a means of integrating a number of disparate services and resources into one easy, customizable interface, with a single point of authentication. Many vendors are beginning to market portal products aimed specifically at libraries. This presentation will introduce you to some of the features and characteristics of portals and their use in a library setting.

This presentation will provide an overview of the Novanet Live-Help Project, which began as a pilot and developed into a full-fledged service offered throughout the Novanet Consortium. Issues to be covered include: software, staffing, training, and hours of service involved in providing live, online chat-based reference service.