Listservs & Discussion Forums ICT Applications in School Libraries

Outline  Listservs  Addresses  Finding listservs  problems

Listservs  Introduction: terminology  lists  discussion lists  electronic conferences  e-conferences  mailing lists  discussion lists  message boards

Subscription address    For example,  

Message address  

Web-based formats: Yahoo Groups  sharing files or  documents or  photographs  Anyone can create a listserv for free  Open or closed  Subscribe on web page

How to find out about Listservs and Groups  CataList: the official catalogue of Listserv lists  List Tool lists more than 800 discussion lists  Yahoo Groups  Google Groups

Joining a listserv  To join EDTECH listserv, I send a message to the membership address of the listserv at  There would be nothing in the subject line, and the message itself would read as follows: SUBSCRIBE EDTECH Sandy Zinn

Joining a Listserv  Some listservs are based on different software packages such as Majordomo, and these have slightly different requirements.  For example, the "subscribe" message is typed in the subject line, not in the body of the message.  It is always best to read the instructions for joining any listserv.

What to expect after joining  Acknowledgement  Instructions  Copy welcome & instruction messages  Other members’ messages

Listserv Archives  Useful info and advice stored on Web site  Most groups on Yahoo Groups have an archive that can be browsed by all subscribers, by going to the Web page for the group on Yahoo Groups.

Electronic Mail problems affecting Listservs  Chain letters  Spam  Virus hoaxes  Computer viruses

Chain Letters  This is an electronic version of the popular printed chain letter we experienced as children. Likewise, you are asked to send copies of the letter to a number of friends and threatened that if you don’t something bad would happen to you (or your family).  Your work would probably ban chain letters. Be mindful that they are an irritation and don’t be tempted to forward them!  Chain letters are just a form of junk mail (unsolicited mail).

Spam  Spam is irrelevant or inappropriate mail sent to multiple addresses (usually via mailing lists or other messaging systems) in a deliberate or accidental violation of netiquette.  Spammers often buy lists of thousands of addresses –or they can “harvest” addresses from Web pages using special software.  Spam messages are usually selling a product or service of some kind – pornography or debt reduction schemes. They play on the reader’s gullibility or greed or both. The best advice is to hit the delete key!

Spam  You can reduce the amount of spam by using filtering devices on your system.  This is done by sifting out troublesome addresses or subject lines.  Unfortunately, filtering out an address from a spammer is not always the end because s/he will simply use a new disguised address.

How can you protect yourself against spam?  Use reputable commercial software like Pegasus Mail or a Web-based service like Gmail. Ensure that you are using virus protection software that is up to date. Don’t open an attachment unless you are quite certain what it is. Attachments ending in filenames.exe are particularly notorious for carrying viruses so make doubly sure that you know what the attachment is about before opening an.exe file. Although some attachments may seem to come from a friend, they could still be sent by a virus. Hit the key if you are suspicious!

Computer Viruses  These are spread via attachments. Sometimes the sender intends doing serious damage but most times viruses are spread inadvertently from infected computers.  Viruses of this type use “features” of programmes like Outlook or Outlook Express to collect addresses from the “inbox”, the “outbox”, and other folders of a computer that is using this software.  The virus then uses those addresses to send out copies of itself, sometimes as an attachment to a blank message; sometimes as an attachment to what appears to be a genuine message. Read more …

Virus Hoaxes  A virus hoax appears as a genuine message warning you that a new virus has surfaced which is more destructive than previous viruses. It will cause your computer to crash and lose all your files. You should immediately copy this message to everyone in your address book. The point of these virus hoaxes is to fool the gullible public into reacting. Thousands of s are sent causing congestion and wreaking electronic havoc. What to do when you receive one? · Best advice is to hit the key · If you want to be altruistic and help humanity overcome a vicious virus, check that it is genuine by using one of the “hoaxbuster” sites like or Symantec’s

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