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Locating and Joining a Health-Related Listserv


What is a LISTSERV?

A LISTSERV is an electronic Discussion List. People who share a common interest subscribe to a listserv, and communicate electronically by e-mail.  When you send e-mail to the LISTSERV, it is automatically broadcast to everyone who is subscribed.

After you subscribe, you'll receive e-mails from other people on the listserv. These messages won't be addressed directly to you, but to the listserv.

You may receive one or more messages each day, depending on how busy the listserv is. These e-mails are like conversations, and are called threads. Some listservs have a moderator, who keeps the conversation on track, and sometimes censors inappropriate messages.

You may choose to read and delete the messages, without engaging in the conversation. This is called lurking. You may reply privately to the sender (the person who sent the message to the listserv), or you may reply to the listserv. If you reply to the listserv, your message will be sent to everyone else who is subscribed.

What You Need to Join a LISTSERV

  • An e-mail account
  • The name and e-mail address of the LISTSERV that you wish to join
Most LISTSERVS have two addresses.   One address is used only to subscribe and unsubscribe yourself from the listserv. Your subscribe/unsubscribe message is read by a computer, not by a person. The second address is used to send e-mail to the listserv, for distribution to the other subscribers. It is important to remember which e-mail address does which function!
 

How to Subscribe to a LISTSERV

For almost all listservs, do the following:

  • Log onto your e-mail
  • Type an e-mail message, addressed to the listserv's computer system (sometimes called the Majordomo)
  • Leave the subject line of your e-mail BLANK
  • In the body of your e-mail, type SUBSCRIBE [you may need to type other information, depending on your listserv]
  • Make sure not to type anything else in the message
  • Turn off your automatic signature, if you use one
  • SEND the message
  • You're subscribed! Look for a response in your e-mail's IN box.
Locating a LISTSERV

You can find information on LISTSERVs in a number of places. You might want to look:

  • On your Favorite Nursing Website. The site may have a discussion list, in addition to the Web content.
  • In your Favorite Nursing Journal. Many journals have discussion forums to encourage dialogue about the articles.
You might also consider the Meta Lists below.
 

Meta List of Discussion Forums

Nursing-Related

Nursing Discussion Forums
http://www.ualberta.ca/~jrnorris/nursinglists/

Nurseserver.com Listservs
http://www.nurseserver.com/listservs.html

Listservs and Discussion Groups [compiled by Barnes Library, University of Missouri - St.Louis]
http://www.umsl.edu/services/scampus/NRWebResources.html#list

Liszt.com Nursing-related Listservs
http://www.liszt.com/dir/?cid="2494
 

Health-Related Forums

Listservs and Newsgroups [Compiled by University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center]
http://www2.utsouthwestern.edu/cfdocs/library/search/search.cfm?subject=Listservs%2FNewsgroups&section=2

Liszt.com Health-related Listservs
http://www.liszt.com/dir/?cid="32
 

Stephan J. Macaluso
Sojourner Truth Library, SUNY New Paltz September 2002
ref@newpaltz.edu