Introduction to Mailing Lists

LIU Email Services

There are hundreds of mailing lists connecting Internet email users with common interests. Mailing lists are easy to use. A subscribed member sends a message to the mailing list address and that message is then automatically distributed to all the subscribed list members around the world.

Three basic types of mailing lists.

• unmoderated lists: list members participate in free-form discussions, usually with a quick turnaround time 
• moderated discussions: one person screens the messages received by the list members 
• digested mailings: messages sent to the list are appended together and sent out in batches

• When you want to join a mailing list, you subscribe to that list. 
• When you want to be taken off the list you unsubscribe. 
• While you are subscribed to a mailing list, you can send messages that the other members can see. 
• In some cases list membership numbers are in the thousands. In other cases, lists are focused on a small specific group of people who are separated by time and or geography. 
• Some lists are archived so discussions can later be referenced.
• There is (usually) no fee for subscribing. 

Other mailing lists are directly maintained by a person. With these lists you send a message that is read by the list administrator who manually adds or deletes people from the list. 

The most common mailing list administration system is called LISTSERV, which stands for "list server". Other list administration systems include programs called LISTPROC, MAJORDOMO and MAISER. Long Island University uses the LISTPROC list administration system. 

Since you can join mailing lists all over the Internet, you are likely to run into different list administration systems. Each list administration system uses commands which are similar but not always exactly the same. When you subscribe to a list, you will receive a  welcome message which will include important information about how to use that particular system. 

The trick to successful use of a mailing list is to keep the addresses (there are at least two) straight. One address you use to post messages to the list members and the other(s) you use to send commands to the mail list administration system.

• listserv@the.address - To issue a command (subscribe, unsubscribe etc.), send a message containing the correctly worded command to the mailing list administration program address.  The address for mailing lists handled by the LIU administration program is listproc@liu.edu. Generally, you do not need to use this address very often.

• mailing_list_name@the.address - Use this address to post messages for the other mailing list members to see. Do not send command messages to this address.  If you wished to send a message to the members of an LIU mailing list called "class101", the address would be class101@liu.edu.  Generally speaking, this is the address you use most of the time.

When you subscribe to a mailing list you join a group of people who share a common interest in a particular topic. To subscribe to a mailing list you send a subscription request to the list's administrative address. 

1. Access your email program. 
2. Send an Internet email message to the mailing list administrator of the list to which you wish to subscribe. 
• Address your message to: listserv@the.address (use listproc@liu.edu for LIU lists)
• Leave the Subject: line blank 
• In the body of your email message enter: subscribe name_of_the_list Your Name
• Remove any additional text you may have in the message including signature information
3. Keep the welcome message that you receive from the mailing list administrator. It contains important information.

It is important to keep the welcome message and instructions that you receive when you join a mailing list!

When you send messages to a mailing list you share your thoughts and information with a group of people who share a common interest in a particular topic. To send or post messages to the group of people who have subscribed to a particular list, you direct your messages to the list's address.

1. Access your email program. 
2. Send an Internet email message to the mailing list address to which you have previously subscribed. 
• Address your message to: name_of_the_list@the.address (use name_of_the_list@liu.edu for LIU lists)
• Put the specific topic of your message in the Subject: line - a blank subject line is considered to be rude 
• Type your message to the group in the body the email message. 

To cancel your subscription to a mailing list, send a short message to the list's administrative address asking to be removed from the list. Some mailing lists are automated and have specific cancellation requirements. 

1. Access your email program. 
2. Using the same email account that you used to subscribe to the list, send an Internet email message to the administrator of the mailing list. 
• Address your message to: listserv@the.address (use listproc@liu.edu for LIU lists)
• Leave the Subject: line blank 
• In the body of your email message enter: signoff name_of_the_list
• Remove any additional text you may have in the message including signature information

To obtain the correct commands for a particular list's administrative system, send a message to the list's administrative address containing the word ‘help’. 

1. Access your email program. 
2. Send an Internet email message to the administrator of the mailing list from which you wish to get help. 
• Address your message to: listserv@the.address (use listproc@liu.edu for LIU lists). 
• Leave the Subject: line blank 
• In the body of your email message enter the word: help
• Remove any additional text you may have in the message including signature information
3. Read the help email message the administrative system sends you.

To see a mailing list's settings, general information file and a listing of current subscribers, send a short message with the correct command to the list's administrative address. Please note, some lists give you the option of not allowing your name to appear in the membership list even though you are a member.

1. Access your email program. 
2. Send an Internet mail message to the administrator of the mailing list from which you wish to get the membership list. 
• Address your message to: listserv@the.address (use listproc@liu.edu for LIU lists). 
• Leave the Subject: line blank 
• In the body of your email message enter: review list_name
• Remove any additional text you may have in the message including signature information
3. Read the email message the administrative system sends you.

There are a couple of  ways to locate public mailing lists.  You can do searches using a web-based directory of mailing lists or you can query the list administrator for a particular site.

To locate mailing lists at any site, use your web browser to search a web-based directory such as:

LISZT the mailing list directory
The Directory of Scholarly and Professional E-Conferences
Tile.net

To see which mailing lists are publicly available on a particular system, send a short message with the correct command to the list's administrative address. 

1. Access your email program. 
2. Send an Internet email message to the administrator of the mailing list system from which you wish to get the list of lists. 
• Address your message to: listserv@the.address (use listproc@liu.edu for LIU lists). 
• Leave the Subject: line blank 
• In the body of your email message enter: lists local
• Remove any additional text you may have in the message including signature information
3. Read the email message the administrative system sends you.

LIU Faculty and Staff members can request to have a mailing list built. The most common type of list is a class mailing list. Send your request to steve@liu.edu.  Include the name you would like to use for the list in your mail message.

For additional information about mailing lists, try this site.

NetGuide on Mailing Lists