To Create a Listserv
Click
here to request an UMSL listserv.
What is a Listserv
A listserv provides an opportunity for large or small groups of
students with similar interests to communicate via e-mail.
Every listserv has an e-mail address. The listserv program keeps a list of
'subscribers' and any mail sent to the listserv's e-mail address by any
subscriber is forwarded to all other subscribers.
Don't be confused by the word "subscriber". To
become a "subscriber" to a listserv, one simply needs to
register by e-mail with the particular listserv in which they are
interested.
Listserves can be very useful communication tools. They allow
you to communicate with students having similar interests; to share information; or
to discuss specific concerns or questions you or other subscribers have.
A listserv may have a small number of subscribers, 20 or 30 perhaps, or it
could be quite large; 3,000 or 4,000 subscribers for example.
Whenever any subscriber sends a message to the listserv, every other subscriber
receives the message via e-mail. This can result, in the case of larger
listserves, in participants being inundated with large numbers of messages every
day. To receive 30 to 50 or more messages a day from a large listserv
is not unusual.
If you do not have your own computer or a computer that you plan to access
frequently (every day or so) a listserv may overwhelm you. Imagine joining
a large listserv and not checking your mail for two weeks. When you log on
to your e-mail account you might discover you have 600 new messages. On the
other hand, some listserves only post three or four messages a month.
Many listserves are unmoderated. Some, however, have a moderator. The
moderator decides which messages should be forwarded on to the group.
A listserv that is moderated has a moderator who reads every message
and decides whether it should be posted. An unmoderated listserv in
comparison, does not censor messages. When a message is sent to an
unmoderated listserv it is automatically sent to each member without review.
There are advantages and disadvantages to each method.
The benefits of joining a listserv can be substantial. It is a good
way to find out about current ideas about any subject imaginable. Very
in-depth discussions often occur about subjects that are important to the
subscribers. The knowledge contained in any group is always greater than what
one individual can possess. Of course there will be opinions
expressed that you will disagree with as well.