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LM_NET reminders  -  Things every subscriber should remember

Last updated August 9, 2004

IDENTIFICATION IS REQUIRED ON ALL MESSAGES POSTED TO LM_NET
Here is an example of the information that must be included:
      1.  Name, Occupation/Job Title       Jo Booksworth, Librarian
      2.  Worksite                                    Best School, Bestville, CA
      3.  e-mail address                            JBOOKSWORTH@BEST.K12.CA.US
If you do not know how to automate this procedure, you may want to ask your network manager if there is an automatic way of including a signature file in your messages. Most are able to do so.

PROPER FORM FOR POSTED MESSAGES: AVOID HTML AND MIME FORMATS
Please be sure that you have your e-mail software configured to send in TEXT ONLY. Please DO NOT compose messages in HTML or MIME format. Such settings are controlled by your local e-mail setup or options.  Also, please DO NOT send attachments to be posted

ETIQUETTE
LM_NET does not tolerate flames. We will immediately drop members who post rude, inflammatory or grossly inappropriate messages on/off list. In this category we include messages that are denigrating to any group of people (e.g., racial, religious, geographical, national, political, etc.) Please remember that LM_NET is an international electronic community, comprising many countries and their peoples.) Please see out LM_NET Etiquette Guidelines at:  http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/eti.html

 Note: This guideline includes private e-mail sent in response to something that an LM_NET member has posted. It doesn't matter if you send the rude message to someone in private. If you reply to an LM_NET posting, please remember to be polite and civil.

COPYRIGHT CONSIDERATIONS
All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law. Please DO NOT post or make use of any messages posted to LM_NET without
obtaining permission from the LM_NET Moderators first.

Please do not post material that is copyright by someone else without first obtaining permission from the copyright holder. Violations of
copyright law are reasons for loss of posting privileges to LM_NET.

The LM_NET Moderators reserve the right to use any posting to LM_NET in their promotion of LM_NET, in their articles, books, presentations,
seminars, classes and in any other form or format that might be used to discuss, share information or inform others about LM_NET.

MAIL CONTROL
You may receive an average of 75 messages each day from LM_NET. Please be sure to check your mail regularly, and delete mail after you
have made use of it.  If your mailbox becomes full, your mail is sent back to the sender (i.e., Mike or Peter) and it clogs up our mailboxes, causing unnecessary work, such as the deletion of your membership in LM_NET.  (Of course, we will reinstate you when the problem is fixed.)

COMMERCIAL AND PROMOTIONAL MESSAGE CONSIDERATIONS
Messages from vendors, producers, authors, speakers, conference/workshop/seminar organizers, consultants, other producers of products, or people promoting any kind of causes are prohibited without prior permission from the LM_NET Moderators.

As a service to supportive vendors, we have made available EL-ANNOUNCE, a moderated, read-only group.  If you subscribe, you will receive
announcements of new products, services, or opportunities specifically suited the the education and library fields. This is an announcement list only--there will be no discussion, but you will be able to reply directly to a specific vendor to obtain additional information. See: http://www.mindspring.com/~el-announce/

A FRIENDLY REMINDER
Conversation on LM_NET should focus on the topics of interest to the school library media community, including the latest on school library media services, operations, and activities.  LM_NET is for practitioners helping practitioners, sharing ideas, solving problems, telling each other about new publications and up-coming conferences, asking for assistance or information, and linking schools through their library media centers.

The LM_NET discussion is open to ALL school library media specialists - worldwide- and people involved with the school library media field. It is _not_ for general librarians or educators.  Please help keep the activity and discussion focused on school library media.  But, LM_NET can be used by library media people for many different things-- to ask for input, share ideas and information, link programs that are geographically remote, make contacts, etc.

LM_NET DAILY DIGEST OPTION AVAILABLE
If you would like to have all of the messages posted to LM_NET compiled into a single message, and sent to your mailbox _once_ each day, you now have that option.  (If more than 300 lines of messages are posted on a given day, another daily digest will be issued after that cutoff point.)

To activate the LM_NET Digest feature, send a mail message to:  LISTSERV@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU   with one of the following commands in the _body_ of the message,

     To turn the digest on:    SET LM_NET DIGEST
     To turn the digest off:   SET LM_NET NODIGEST

TEMPORARILY STOPPING MAIL FROM LM_NET
If you want to stop receiving mail from LM_NET for a period of time, all you have to do is send a specific message to the listserv computer which handles LM_NET mail.

1. Send the message  to:   LISTSERV@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
2. In the body of the message, type the following:  set lm_net nomail
   *  To restart your LM_NET mail, send to the same address, the following:   set lm_net mail

   * Netscape and other graphical mailers may require confirmation. Please allow time for the confirmation message to reach you. This normally is sent to you immediately after the Listserv receives your command.

LM_NET ADDRESSES: TWO, EACH FOR A DIFFERENT PURPOSE
Many features of this discussion group are automated.  LISTSERV automatically handles two types of messages, using separate addresses through which it receives its e-mail message commands:

   a. Mail messages to ALL LM_NET members:  LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU

   b. Administrative listserv requests (i.e., to the computer):  LISTSERV@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU

POSTING YOUR MAIL MESSAGES TO ALL LM_NET MEMBERS
How do you send a message to all of the other subscribers of LM_NET? It's easy. Just send an e-mail message as you would to anyone else with an electronic mail address.
      Send to: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
If you post a message to LM_NET, please note that you WILL receive a copy of your message from the listserv.

This is something that LM_NET devised to assist us in making LM_NET as effective as possible. Sharing the results is an important part of this process, so please don't forget to share. :-)

TARGET/HIT-> AN LM_NET DISCUSSION TOOL

Your LM_NET moderators recommend an very effective way to focus our discussions, and make them more valuable in the process. This may seem a bit more formal that is common on most groups, but it will serve us well as we grow (we now have more than 15,000 people reading LM_NET.) 

We recommend that you specifically TARGET-> your queries, and use a HIT-> summary to share their responses received. 

That is, when someone wants information about a topic (e.g., online catalogs), they should ask for people to respond to them directly, and after a period of time, post a summary or compilation of responses.  The originator of the TARGET-> question uses that term in the subject line of the initial question that is posted to the entire group. 

For example, "TARGET-> Choosing Online Catalogs - November 2001." would appear in the subject line of the message. In the body of the message the person might say something like the following:

"Hi, this is Mike Eisenberg. I would like to TARGET-> Choosing Online Catalogs. I'd like to find out how others on LM_NET are choosing their Online Catalogs. If people will respond to me, I'll compile your responses and post A HIT-> on the topic back to the entire LM_NET." 

Then, when enough responses are collected, the originator summarizes or compiles the responses, and posts the summary as a HIT-> so everyone on the list can read, _if_ they are interested. This is a terrific way to add value to the list. Be sure to restate your original request at the top of the Hit, so that readers will quickly understand the purpose of the Hit. 

E-mail addresses: If you plan to include the names and e-mail addresses of those who reply, state it in your Target (e.g., "I will include your e-mail address in my Hit. Please let me know if you wish to remain anonymous.") This will give the person the option, and may result in more replies to your Target. Remember, all LM_NET messages are sent to a public archives which may be accessed by anyone.

The TARGET/HIT-> approach is particularly effective when someone has a specific question that needs a variety of suggestions, experiences, practices or sources. It is not _always_ appropriate. The intent of TARGET/HIT-> is to make LM_NET more valuable to its growing list of members.

SUMMARY: TARGET/HIT-> is a four-step process:

1. The TARGET-> originator proposes the subject for answering/commenting. i.e., TARGET-> Choosing Online Catalogs.

2. Those interested in the subject send their responses to the _originator_ of the TARGET-> question. Please do NOT post the response to the group.

3. TARGET-> originator summarizes or collates the responses, and then,

4. Posts the summarized responses to the entire list, using the original subject of their message as a HIT->.  i.e., HIT-> Choosing Online Catalogs.


SUBJECT KEYWORDS
We have been making effective use of defined subject headings, in order to assist members in managing the large volume of LM_NET mail. Please try to use these Subject terms in the subject line of your postings. Currently available Subject Topic Keywords are:

TARGET request for information to be compiled for a HIT
HIT the compiled information from the TARGET request
ADMIN restricted for official messages from the listowners
GREET for requests for greetings
TECH for PC & MAC software & hardware discussions
REF requests for all types of reference questions
JOBS postings of job vacancies
ELEM postings for kindergarten to 5th grade topics
MIDDLE postings for middle school topics
SEC postings for secondary grades (9 to 12)
HUMOR it helps to state that the message is humorous :-)
TRAV to request travel info (ask for direct reply)
GEN anything that doesn't fit the other categories

Examples::
            Subject: GEN: Special movie on PBS tonight
            Subject: REF,SEC: Info on World War II
            When in doubt about which to choose, pick GEN:

HOW TO SIGN OFF LM_NET
You may leave the LM_NET at any time by sending the "SIGNOFF LM_NET" command by e-mail to:  LISTSERV@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU

Please note that this command is sent only to the listserv address: [It must _NOT_ be sent to the membership list address.]

* Netscape and other graphical mailers may require confirmation.     Please allow time for the confirmation message to reach you. This normally is sent to you immediately after the Listserv receives your command.

HOW TO FIND OUT AN LM_NET MEMBER'S E-MAIL ADDRESS
Member addresses are obtainable for legitimate purposes by writing to the list owner:  pmilbury@ericir.syr.edu

FINDING/SEARCHING THE LM_NET ARCHIVES AND RELATED INFORMATION
The LM_NET Archives and other helpful, related information is available at the AskERIC Web site, from two locations: Searchable /organized by thread, date, subject or author. URL: http://ericir.syr.edu/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/lmnet.html

HOW TO SHARE LM_NET WITH YOUR COLLEAGUES
Have them subscribe!  To subscribe to LM_NET, just do this:
   1.  Send an e-mail message  to:  LISTSERV@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
   2.  In the first line of the message, type: SUBSCRIBE LM_NET Firstname Lastname

   (Of course, you would substitute your actual name in the line, such as "SUBSCRIBE LM_NET Libby Rarian"    No quotes necessary

The LM_NET listserv computer will respond with an informative message, which will ask for a confirmation.  You will then be added if you properly follow the directions.

TARGET/HIT->  AN LM_NET DISCUSSION TOOL
Your LM_NET moderators ask that you use the TARGET/HIT procedure to help make L_NET discussions more valuable. We have more than 13,000 people reading the list.) Specifically, please TARGET-> your queries, and use a HIT-> summary to share their responses received.

For example,  "TARGET-> Choosing Online Catalogs - March 1993." would appear in the subject line of the message.  In the body of the message the person might say something like the following: "Hi, this is Mike Eisenberg.  I would like to TARGET-> Choosing Online Catalogs. I'd like to find out how others on LM_NET are choosing their Online Catalogs. If people will respond to me, I'll compile your responses and post A HIT-> on the topic back to the entire LM_NET."

Then, when enough responses are collected, the originator summarizes or compiles the responses, and posts the TARGET-> topic summary as a HIT. So now, everyone on the list can read, _if_ they are interested. This is a terrific way to add value to the list.  And it will cut down on some of the extra traffic.  It also still allows for stimulating discussions about key issues.

SUMMARY:  TARGET/HIT-> is a four-step process:  

  1. The TARGET: originator proposes the subject for answering/commenting. i.e., TARGET: Choosing Online Catalogs.
  2. Those interested in the subject send their responses to the "originator of the TARGET: question. Please do NOT post the response to the group.
  3. TARGET: originator summarizes or collates the responses, and then,
  4. Posts the summarized responses to the entire list, using the original subject of their message as a HIT->.  i.e., HIT: Choosing Online Catalogs.

       Thank you for your support of this innovation for Internet discussions.
       We hope your comments and questions, observations and ideas will be
       shared with the entire LM_NET list. If you have any questions about
       LM_NET, please feel free to contact either of us.

Thank you for your support of this innovation for Internet discussions. We hope your comments and questions, observations and ideas will be shared with the entire LM_NET list. If you have any questions about LM_NET, please feel free to contact either Peter or Mike.

Peter Milbury   (PMILBURY@ERICIR.SYR.EDU)
Mike Eisenberg  (MIKE@ERICIR.SYR.EDU)

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