1 Using the JiscMail service Rutherford Appleton Laboratories

2 Outline of Presentation F What is JiscMail? F Why should you use JiscMail? F What about the Web? F How do you use JiscMail?

3 What is JiscMail? F Succesor to the Mailbase service, funded by JISC and run by Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. F Web interface F Based on LISTSERV, a versatile scalable product for managing discussion lists. F User support – helpline, documentation, training

4 What is a list? F List holds names and addresses F Join a list in your area of interest F Message sent to list address is copied to all members

5 Why use JiscMail? F Share information, ideas and expertise with people in the same subject area F Engage in scholarly discussion F Exchange news and views worldwide F Access CataList, a database of public LISTSERV lists world-wide. F High level of user support F Free service

6 About JiscMail lists F For research, teaching and associated support activities F Wide variety of subjects covered F Different types of lists – public and private lists – list owner determines level of access F Can set up a new list if your area is not represented

8 JiscMail on the web F All public lists displayed F Message archives F Searching – subjects, people, documents – message archives F Sorting – date,author, subject F Documentation

10 JiscMail addresses F JiscMail program F Members of the list

11 Joining a list Send a message to the JiscMail program To: Body of message: join greek-education John Wright

12 Sending a message to a list Messages are sent to the list address To: Subject: A new Foundation College Body of message: A new comer has appeared in this ….

13 Example postings to a list F Requests for information/opinions F Information items – conferences and meetings – courses and workshops – job adverts F Book reviews, bibliographies, abstracts F Relevant URLs and resources F Surveys

14 Common User commands [1] Just send the message in italics to F Leave the list, leave greek-education F Suspend , suspend mail greek- education F Resume , resume mail greek- education F Members of list, review greek-education F For files and archives, index greek- education

15 Common User commands [2] F Get a file or an archive e.g. to receive the archive for October 1998, get greek- education.log9810 F Contact list owner, greek-education-

16 Getting Help F Documentation F List owner F Helpline

17 Setting up a new list F Submit an application via the web F Or send for template by F List must benefit UK HE F Directly relate to teaching and/or research F One owner from UK HE

18 Summary F JiscMail service – discussion lists – web service – user support F Using JiscMail – finding, joining and posting to a list – obtaining files – getting help – setting up a new list