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Listservs

Listservs are automatic systems for distributing mailing lists. They are useful for keeping abreast in a field of knowledge and for networking with peers. To be included one must subscribe. It usually takes about 24 hours to begin receiving e-mail. You will then receive an e-mail telling about the list. All members of the listserv receive e-mail messages from other members of the list. You can lurk (just read the messages) or send messages to the list.

Some lists are moderated so that every message goes through an editing process and the moderators can remove people or messages from the list that are not following established guidelines. Some are unmoderated and every message sent to the listserv address goes to everyone subscribing to that list. Some lists are available in digest form which means that you receive all messages sent to the listserv in a 24 hour period in one e-mail.

To subscribe to a listserv follow these steps:

1. Send an e-mail message addressed to the listserv.
2. Leave the subject line blank.
3. The text of the message must read: SUBSCRIBE LISTNAME Yourfirstname Yourlastname (LISTNAME means the name of the list..e.g. if the List Name says LIBREF-L, the LISTNAME is LIBREF-L).
4. Do not include any other text.

To unsubscribe to a listserv follow these steps:

1. Send an e-mail message addressed to the listserv.
2. Leave the subject line blank.
3. The text of the message will read: UNSUBSCRIBE LISTNAME.

Other useful commands are :

Follow steps 1 and 2 above. Then use these commands as the text of the message.

set LISTNAME digest (to get a digest version)
set LISTNAME nomail (to temporarily stop mail)
set LISTNAME mail (to resume mail)

Diane K. Kovacs has compiled a Directory of Scholarly and Professional E-Conferences which provides many listserv names along with an annotation of the topics covered by that list. This site is searchable by broad topic, alphabetically by title of the list, or by keyword.

L-Soft CataList, the official catalog of LISTSERV lists is compiled by a commercial software manufacturer, but allows for browsing of over 44,000 listserves. While this list is not limited to only scholarly or professional lists, it does give the number of subscribers to each list.

Liszt, the mailing list directory is another commercial directory. It can be browsed by broad subject area or searched by keyword.

Meta-List is a listing of over 177,000 listservs. It does not censor and shows lists in relevance order. This listing does not focus on the scholarly or professional, but is worldwide in scope.