Mailing List

A mailing list is a forum for discussion of a specific topic. Individuals (whether subscribers or not) e-mail messages to a central server; the server redistributes the messages to all subscribers via e-mail.

The day to day operations of a mailing list are handled by a listserver or mailserver program. Listserver programs include Listserv, Majordomo and ListProcessor. Mailing lists users must distinguish between the address of the mailing list itself and the address of the server. The former is usually of the form group@address and the latter of the form listserv@address.

URLs:

Publically Accessible Mailing Lists (MIT)

An extensive listing of mailing lists.

Mailing Lists

Indexes of mailing lists by subject or name, with capabilities for subscribing.

Search for Mailing Lists

Past mailing list messages are frequently archived as a reference source. This site offers a searchable index of over 12,000 mailing lists.

W3E References:

listserv

majordomo

BITNET

Detail:

BITNET, an academic and research mail network with powerful mail distribution abilities created in 1981, was one of the originators of LISTSERV, an early mailserver. Today BITNET is one of a number of mailing list networks accessed from within the Internet.

Some mailing lists are moderated for content or relevancy and some redirect all messages to all subscribers. Some restrict access to members. However they are administered, mailing lists send messages automatically to subscribers, unlike newsgroups where one must actively search postings.

A word of warning is in order: subscribers to mailing list can find themselves deluged with mail when a controversial event encourages numerous messages, or when subscribers (and others) fail to read existing messages before posting their own two cents.

Subscriptions are generally obtained by an e-mail message to the mailserver with simply the word "subscribe" as the content. Upon subscribing to a mailing list, individuals receive a confirmation with detailed instructions on commands for closing the subscription, having mail held or forwarded, etc. The specific commands can generally be acquired by sending an e-mail message to the appropriate listserver with no header and the message "help" in the body. The commands for all mailing lists on the same listserver are the same.

Mailing lists are used as a communications instrument by business associations, academic and professional groups, consumer organizations, or any other group of people with a shared interest and a concern for sharing information on a regular basis. Newsletters are also distributed by mailing list.

Messages from mailing list are often archived and are generally available to the public.