1. Subscribing and Unsubscribing 
2. Sending, Participating, Digesting

You can usually send mail to such lists only if you are a subscribed member. There are two different types:

1. Automatic list processor management address for subscribing and unsubscribing and changing your settings with the list. Do not send email messages to this address; send only specialized commands for subscribing, unsubscribing, and setting options.
2. Discussion list or mailing list address for sending messages to all the other people subscribed to the list.

• Address your subscription email to the automatic list processor management address, not to the discussion list address. Double check that all information is typed correctly.
• If you receive notification from the listserv managment about an approval process, follow the directions in that message.
• Save the welcome and usage message you receive when your subscription membership is accepted. You will need that information to change settings and unsubscribe. Print a copy as well.
• If you change email addresses, you must unsubscribe from the old address and subscribe from the new one. If you plan to use more than one email address to communicate with the list, you must subscribe individually from each of your addresses.
• Different types of listservs have different conventions for subscribing. TCC uses majordomo subscriptions. Follow the directions for majordomo, listserv, and listproc subscriptions. Many lists now are on Websites, for example, eGroups. These lists usually have Web forms for subscribing.

Majordomo Lists:

1. In the To line, type the automatic list processor management address.
2. Leave the Subject line blank [unless you are required by your Internet Service Provider to include a subject, in which case use the word "subscribe"]
3. In the message body, type the following information:

• subscribe listname your@emailaddress 
  but substitute the name of the list you are joining and use your own actual emailaddress, for example, Pat Smart is joining a list named stdonln:

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Listserv or Listproc Lists:

1. In the To line, type the automatic list processor management address.
2. Leave the Subject line blank [unless you are required by your Internet Service Provider to include a subject, in which case use the word "subscribe"]
3. In the message body, type the following information:
4. subscribe listname Yourfirstname Yourlastname 
   but substitute the name of the list you are joining and use your own actual name, for example,

   To: listserv@listserv.cc.va.us 
   Subject:
   Message: 
   subscribe art-list Pat Smart

Unsubscribing:

To unsubscribe or signoff from a listserv, be sure to follow the directions that came with your listserv subscription. The following directions apply to many but not all listservs.

1. In the To line, type the automatic list processor management address.
2. Leave the Subject line blank [unless you are required by your Internet Service Provider to include a subject, in which case use the word "unsubscribe"]
3. In the message body, type the following information:

   unsubscribe listname
   but substitute the name of the list you are leaving, for example, unsubscribe art-list

Sending Messages to the Listserv--To All Subscribers

To send email to everybody subscribed to a particular list, use the discussion address, not the management address, as the first part of the email address. 

To: listname@listserv.cc.va.us but substitute the name of the list you are writing to, for example, To: art-list@listserv.cc.va.us

Tips for Participating

1. Always use a subject line that will make clear to recipients what the focus of your message is. Do not use a generic "help"; instead use a specific description like "help importing graphics."
2. Stay focused on the topic--and make clear what the context of your comments is. However, it might be better to summarize rather than quote all of a lengthy previous message.
3. Identify yourself--an automated signature with your name and return email address is helpful to let people know how to reply to you.
4. Be courteous and respectful; support your statements with concrete information, especially when debating a topic (and keep in mind that respectful debate is usually one of the purposes of the list).
5. Review what you have written before you send it. Remember that your recipients have only your words to rely on, not your facial expressions or body language. Write clearly and accurately. Irony and humor can be misunderstood.
6. For a class, include all required class information in the subject line, signature block, and body of each message--and follow all instructions from the professor.
7. Be careful to distinguish between messages meant for all list subscribers and those that go to the list processor for automated management functions. Double check the "To" line of outgoing messages.
8. Be careful to distinguish between messages meant for an individual and messages meant for everybody on the list. When you use the "Reply" feature, review the "To" line to see where the message will be sent.
9. If you are joining an established list, you might want to "lurk" for a while and read the messages before you post--to get to know the topics under discussion and the conventions of writing used by other members. When you post your first message, you might want to introduce yourself.

Digesting

One way to manage the email from high-volume lists is to use the digest option, which combines all the mail for a day into a single message. A disadvantage of this method is loss of the individual message subject lines to help you identify your incoming mail, so use this option only if you do not need that flexibility. Additionally, some listservs do not permit this option. To switch from individual messages to digest, send email to the list processor management address, leaving the subject line blank, and using this message: set listname mail digest

To: listserv@listserv.cc.va.us
Subject:
Message: set art-list mail digest