Note: This document contains some substantive revisions from Scope
& Purpose statements that have previously been posted to the list.
Please take a few moments to review it, even if you've seen earlier
versions. In addition to minor changes in scope, purpose and
policy issues, the LISTSERV software that supports SERIALST was
recently upgraded and there are several new command options. --Birdie
-------------------
SERIALST SCOPE & PURPOSE
(INCLUDING SELECTED COMMAND OPTIONS)
(Revised June 1993)
SERIALST (Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum) was established in
October 1990, with technical support from the Office of Academic Computing
at the University of Vermont (UVM), in order to serve as an informal
electronic forum for most aspects of serials processing in libraries.
Appropriate topics include (but are not limited to): cataloging,
acquisitions, collection management, serials budgets and pricing
concerns, binding, preservation, microfilm and other non print serials
media, union list activities, announcements, news, and job postings
that are of interest to the serials community. Messages sent out
on SERIALST currently reach ca. 1350 subscribers in 26 countries.
Prior to November 25, 1991, SERIALST was an unmoderated forum. On
November 25, parameters of the LISTSERV software (which supports
SERIALST) were changed to support collaboration between multiple
moderators, in different geographical locations. Messages that are
sent to SERIALST are reviewed by the moderators, who then forward
messages on appropriate topics to subscribers of SERIALST. When
sending mail to SERIALST, please keep it to 250 lines or less and
break longer messages into multiple, short, "serial" messages.
Address messages to: SERIALST@UVMVM.UVM.EDU or
SERIALST@UVMVM.BITNET
Please read messages carefully for appropriate addresses before
automatically sending your reply. PLEASE NOTE WELL that when
you "reply" directly to a SERIALST message, you are usually
replying back to the list, and *not* to the individual who sent
the message. While we make every attempt to screen messages
carefully, we cannot take responsibility for forwarding replies
intended for individuals to the appropriate person. Please take
care in your responses! Re-direct replies not intended for the
list to the appropriate address.
SERIALST's policy toward cross-posting of messages from other
lists is that it's generally fine -- SO LONG AS THE CROSS-POSTED
MESSAGE IS FROM THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR of the message. However, we
will forward other people's messages ONLY if we have the permission
of the original author of the message -- unless the message is obviously
very public and intended for cross-posting (as in general library or
networking news messages that are important, timely, and relevant to
our subscribership). If you want to post someone else's message to
SERIALST, please get their permission before you send it to us.
Selected postings from SERIALST, related to serials pricing, may also
appear in the electronic publication: _NEWSLETTER ON SERIALS PRICING
ISSUES_. Subscribers to SERIALST will benefit from a more in depth look
at serial pricing concerns if they also subscribe to the _NEWSLETTER
ON SERIALS PRICING ISSUES_ (to subscribe send a one line message:
SUBSCRIBE PRICES <your name>, to: Listserv@gibbs.oit.unc.edu,
or contact the editor, Marcia Tuttle at: Tuttle@gibbs.oit.unc.edu).
Disclaimer: The University of Vermont offers SERIALST as a public
service. It does not verify the accuracy of submitted messages, nor
does it endorse opinions expressed by contributors to the SERIALST
forum. Authors of messages to SERIALST are solely responsible for
their content. The moderators reserve the right to reject postings
that do not fall within the scope and purpose of the list.
------------------------
Selected Command Options (send to: LISTSERV@UVMVM.UVM.EDU or
------------------------ LISTSERV@UVMVM.BITNET)
SUBSCRIBE SERIALST <your name> - To join the discussion forum.
UNSUBSCRIBE SERIALST - To unsubscribe from (or signoff of) the
discussion forum. SIGNOFF SERIALST does the same thing.
SET <mail distribution option> Commands:
SET SERIALST MAIL - to receive individual mail messages
as they are posted to the list.
SET SERIALST NOMAIL - to stop mail from being delivered to
your address.
SET SERIALST DIGEST - to receive daily digests of all messages
posted to the list (1750 line limit).
SET SERIALST INDEX - to receive daily index summaries of mail
posted to the list.
<NOTE about SET Options: You can only SET one mail distribution
option at a time. If you choose the DIGEST option, you can not
also choose another option, such as INDEX, MAIL, or NOMAIL. You
cannot, for example, be set to receive digests, and then decide
to set digests to NOMAIL. If you wanted to halt the digests, you
would send the normal SET SERIALST NOMAIL command to the listserv.
To resume digest delivery, you would then issue the command:
SET SERIALST DIGEST. You have to choose one mail option that
best suits your needs at a given time.>
QUERY SERIALST - Displays your mail distribution option settings (i.e.,
whether or not you are set to "digest", or "nomail", et al.); will
also tell you whether or not you are signed onto the list.
REVIEW SERIALST - To retrieve a list of subscribers to SERIALST (name
and e-mail address), arranged alpha by @<node> (i.e., e-mail address).
REVIEW SERIALST BY NAME - To retrieve a list of subscribers to
SERIALST, arranged by last name.
All messages to SERIALST are automatically archived by month. You
may retrieve the monthly archives by issuing the command:
GET SERIALST LOGyymm (ex., get serialst log9305). The UVM
listserver will automatically send you the monthly log of your
choice since Oct. 1990.
The above commands can be sent either by:
(1) sending an interactive message to: LISTSERV@UVMVM, or
(2) by sending the command as a one line message to:
LISTSERV@UVMVM.UVM.EDU or
LISTSERV@UVMVM.BITNET
Please don't send LISTSERV commands to the SERIALST address.
The LISTSERV address is for issuing COMMANDS, while
the SERIALST address is for messages intended for the
distribution to the subscribership.
You may be cancelled from SERIALST without notification if certain
network complications arise. If you fail to receive SERIALST messages
for an inordinate amount of time, use the QUERY or REVIEW command to
find out if your name is present on the distribution list.
FINALLY: It is possible to search the entire SERIALST message database
interactively, or by submitting batch search jobs to LISTSERV@UVMVM
via e-mail message.
You may search by BOOLEAN queries and/or search limitations by date.
Because of the involved set of search commands and space limitations of
this document, interested users are referred to two other documents for
the specifics of LISTSERV search commands:
LISTSERV Database Functions (available from LISTSERV@UVMVM by
issuing the command: INFO DATABASE or:
INFO DATABASE F=MAIL)*
This is a rather lengthy (2148 lines), but comprehensive document.
Bailey, Jr., Charles W., "How to Search the PACS-L Message
Database." This document gives a concise (156 lines)
overview of Listserv database functions as they relate
to the PACS-L@UHUPVM1.BITNET forum, and is useful as a
guide for searching any LISTSERV discussion forum
(including SERIALST) that maintains database archives.
Retrieve this document by sending a one line message to:
LISTSERV@UHUPVM1 (do not send to LISTSERV@UVMVM)
The message should say: GET SEARCH DOC
(or: GET SEARCH DOC F=MAIL).*
* "F=MAIL" will cause these documents to be sent to you
as mail messages; omit it, and they will be sent to you
as files.
For additional information about SERIALST, contact:
Birdie MacLennan
Listowner & Moderator bmaclenn@uvmvm.bitnet
University of Vermont bmaclenn@uvmvm.uvm.edu
Marcia Tuttle
Associate Moderator
Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill tuttle@gibbs.oit.unc.edu
Ann Ercelawn
Associate Moderator ercelaa@vuctrvax.bitnet
Vanderbilt University ercelaa@ctrvax.vanderbilt.edu
