A good place to look about list creating and other matter is by sending
the following to listserv@ndsuvm1 (vm1.nodak.edu)
 
INDEX NEW-LIST
 
and fetch ("GET") the various files principally NEW-LIST CREATE (appended).
(thanks Marty Hogg)
 
--  co-owner INFOSYS, TQM-L, CPARK-L, ERAPPA-L, JANITORS, LDBASE-L, et -L
[log in to unmask]     "The 'NET' never naps"             +1 814 863 1843
31 Shields Bldg. -- Penn State Univ -- University Park, PA 16802-1202 USA
 
            General Comments on Creating an E-mail List
                        Marty Hoag 05/30/91
 
   The actual techniques or technology used to create a distribution list
vary depending on what system you are using.  Most unix systems allow you
to do this on your system.  But I'm not really a unix expert.  We use
software called LISTSERV on our IBM VM system to automate list maintenance
and mail distribution.
 
   However, there are a couple of basic steps (mailing lists aren't as
well defined as usenet news groups in their creation).
 
   1. Decide on a topic/subject.  Check to see if a list already exists. *
 
   2. Pick a name.  Check for duplicate names as much as possible. *
 
   3. Pick a host.  Usually you can do this yourself, find a nearby
      site, or find a site you work with to do this.  (The host you
      use may affect the name so you might have to go back to 2... ;-).
      As a last resort you might send a message to the list
      [log in to unmask] (or [log in to unmask]) explaining the
      proposed list and asking for volunteers to host it.
      But please try your own site first.
 
   4. Set up the list, put in a few entries, and TEST IT!  ;-)  Depending
      on the system you may have both a list ID and a -request  ID.
 
   5. Once it is ready to go announce the list.  If it is an off-shoot of
      an existing list you may want to announce it there, but avoid wholesale
      announcements on many lists.  DO send an announcement to
      [log in to unmask] .  We feed thousands of people and many of these
      maintain various well-known "lists of lists". * **
 
NOTES:
      * Get the  LISTSOF LISTS file from listserv as described.
     ** Get the  NEW-LIST FORMAT file from listserv.
        To get these files from our listserv send e-mail to
             [log in to unmask]  ([log in to unmask])
        with the text or body of the mail containing the command(s):
             GET LISTSOF LISTS          (note the spelling...)
             GET NEW-LIST FORMAT
 
   I hope that helps you get going!  Good luck!
 
        Marty
 
-----------
Marty Hoag
ND Higher Education Computer Network    US Mail: NDSU Computer Center
Phone: (701)-237-8639  Fax: (701)-237-7464       PO Box 5164 / UCCS
Bitnet:   nu021172@NDSUVM1    (NOTE 0 = ZERO)    Fargo, ND  58105
Internet: [log in to unmask]
UUCP:    ...!uunet!plains!vm1.nodak.edu!nu021172