Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
a help and reminder guide for LIBREF-L

LISTSERV Commands Everyone Should Know
Please note all of these commands rely on the address under which you are subscribed.  If your address changes or if your mailer identifies your address differently, these commands will not work.  If they fail, contact the LIBREF-L listowners (librefed@kent.edu) to get the problem resolved.

SUBSCRIBING
--To subscribe to LIBREF-L, send an e-mail message to: LISTSERV@LISTSERV.KENT.EDU
--Your message must read only:   SUBSCRIBE LIBREF-L your name

UNSUBSCRIBING
-- To unsubscribe LIBREF-L, send an e-mail message to: LISTSERV@LISTSERV.KENT.EDU
-- Your message must read only:   UNSUB LIBREF-L

NOMAIL
-- Stops the distribution of LIBREF-L to your account without unsubscribing you from the list. This is useful when you go on vacation, etc.
-- To set your subscription to NOMAIL, send an e-mail message to: LISTSERV@LISTSERV.KENT.EDU
-- The message must read only:  SET LIBREF-L NOMAIL
-- Send the message SET LIBREF-L MAIL to the LISTSERV when you are ready to receive LIBREF-L again.

DIGEST
-- Allows you to receive LIBREF-L as one message containing each individual message, rather than as individual messages.  To set your subscription to DIGEST, send an e-mail message to:
LISTSERV@LISTSERV.KENT.EDU
-- The message must read only:  SET LIBREF-L DIGEST

SUBJ
-- SUBJ allows you to set your LIBREF-L subscription (if you are NOT using the digest option) to tag each individual e-mail from LIBREF-L so that it is easier to recognize. 
-- To set your subscription to do this, send an e-mail message to: LISTSERV@LISTSERV.KENT.EDU
-- The message must read only:
SET LIBREF-L SUBJ

NOMIME
 -- If the messages you receive from LIBREF-L look strange, try switching to nomime.  To set your subscription to NOMIME, send an e-mail message to:  LISTSERV@LISTSERV.KENT.EDU
The message must read only: SET LIBREF-L NOMIME

QUERY
-- Requests the LISTSERV program to tell you whether or not you are subscribed to LIBREF-L.  If the address you send your query command from does not EXACTLY match the address you subscribed under, Listserv will tell you that you are not subscribed.
-- To check to see if you are subscribed, send an e-mail message to:
LISTSERV@LISTSERV.KENT.EDU
-- The message must read only:  QUERY LIBREF-L

Common Questions , Problems, Tips

1. Why do all of the messages I’m getting from LIBREF-L say they are from the Listowners?

Do to the email system used at Kent State, when mail to LIBREF-L is processed, the e-mail address of the original sender will be the first part of any message forwarded to the readership.  All messages will have subject headings, which often did not happen with our former email system.

2. Where are the archives of LIBREF-L, and how do I use them?

Archives of LIBREF-L are maintained at Kent and are available on the Web.  These archives are keyword searchable, as well as arranged by date.  These archives go back to December 1995.  To access this version of the archives, point your Web browser to: http://listserv.kent.edu/archives/libref-l.html
 
3. I've been reading bit.listserv.libref-l but there are no postings; what is going on?
 
We have a problem with the gateway which creates the Usenet group bit.listserv.libref-l.  We know the address which creates the gateway is still subscribed and functioning properly, which leads us to suspect that (once again) the problem resides at the host site for the gateway, American University.  We have had several problems of this type during the past year -- problems which are shared by every Listserv group gatewayed through American.  Since no other site seems willing to provide this service, we are stuck with the choice of American and its inconsistency or shutting down the gateway entirely.  We hope the gateway will come back up soon, but there is no way of knowing if it will.

4. Never post a wordprocessed file UNLESS you are absolutely certain that you have saved it as TEXT.
 
5. If you are posting using a Web Browser, be sure that you are set up to send TEXT only messages.
 
6. It is imperative that you include your name and e-mail address at the end of your messages, as our new method of handling incoming messages for LIBREF-L will make it appear as if your message is coming from the listowners.
 

Please direct any comments or suggestions for additional FAQs to:  librefed@kent.edu