I think Eric Thomas was doing just that recently to prepare for a talk
he had to give.  I'm sending you an article I wrote recently to describe
LISTSERV in general terms to our users.  Feel free to modify it for your
use.
 
Good luck.
 
 
 
 
 
      LISTSERV on IUBVM: More Than Just Another Mail Distributor
 
 
Most academic users are well acquainted with BITNET subscription lists,
which distribute electronic  mail pertaining to a  topic or organization
to registered  users. More than 2000  BITNET mailing lists  are active
today.  This article  will  discuss the  software  which supports  these
lists, LISTSERV, and how it is used on IUBVM.
 
LISTSERV  is  a public-domain,  VM-based  mail  and file  manager  which
currently runs on  over 260 VM sites. LISTSERV is  designed to work with
the VM  Network MAILER  to distribute  mail to  recipients on  all nodes
within the  BITNET and Internet networks  (not just to VM  sites) and to
any other  node accessible  via MAILER  gateways. Besides  the efficient
distribution of  mail to  the subscribers  of mailing  lists, LISTSERV's
capabilities  include   mail  note  logging,  file   distribution,  file
serving, and archive searching. Recently,  LISTSERV was enhanced to also
provide mail forwarding services for all local users.
 
Responsibility for  creating and maintaining  each list is  delegated to
the list  owner. List ownership provides  the ability to add  and delete
subscribers, maintain  and collect usage statistics,  suspend and resume
distribution  of mail  and other  files, define  confidentiality values,
add files  to the  lists' database,  create file  distribution packages,
and set  confidentiality values for  various aspects of the  list.
If a list is set up so that subscription is automatic and open to the
public, very little maintenance is involved.  Lists can also be set
up which require intervention by the owner for subscription and/or
intervention by the owner or designated moderator for posting.  These
management functions may be performed from  an IUBVM account or from any
valid  BITNET  or  Internet   account  via  interactive  messages,  mail
messages, or job command files.
 
Subscribers  to a  list  can  query and  change  their distribution  and
acknowledgement  options, change  their names  as recorded  by LISTSERV,
search and  request copies  of the mailing  log archives,  request files
stored  in the  database, request  that updated  files be  automatically
resent or that they be notified of an update.
 
Subscribers, as well as non-subscribers  on any BITNET or Internet node,
can get  copies of the LISTSERV  documentation, ask for help,  get lists
of available  mailing lists, subscribe  to lists, obtain copies  of list
definition  files, request  non-confidential  files from  any list,  and
search  non-confidential  mail  archives.  Requests  for  any  of  these
LISTSERV services are  sent via interactive messages,  mail messages, or
job command files.
 
Because LISTSERV  allows remote management,  VM sites sponsor  lists for
both local  and remote users. Where  a list is sponsored  depends on the
composition  of the  list (i.e.,  the  percentage of  local or  regional
users), the preference of the list  owner, the resources required by the
list (disk space, network bandwidth), and the willingness of the host to
sponsor it.
 
On IUBVM,  owners manage their  lists from their IUBVM  account or
their VAX cluster accounts.  IUBVM-sponsored lists include:
 
        CJUST-L  Criminal Justice Discussion List
        DIS-L    Drosophilia Workers Newsletter
        DTS-L    Dead Teachers' Society Discussion List
        EDINFO-L Education Information Discussion List
        MLA-L    Music Library Association Mailing List
        TML-L    Database for Latin Music Theory
        UNION-L  Mail, newsletters and salary files for UUP-IU
 
MLA-L is currently the most  active list, with frequent postings among
its more than  300 users worldwide. TML-L is the  most intensive user of
LISTSERV's file serving functions,  distributing text and graphics files
to a  wide network of  music theorists.  TML-L users inform  LISTSERV of
their  area of  interest  (e.g.  14th century  music  theory), and  then
automatically  receive  updates  to  any  files  in  that  category.  To
accommodate Internet  users, TML-L  also provides  a means  of obtaining
files via FTP.
 
For more information about LISTSERV, contact VM Consultant Peter Molnar
(MOLNARP@IUBVM or [log in to unmask]).
 
                                       Mary Papakhian
                                       VM Systems Programmer
                                       University Computing Services
                                       WCC 136.13   855-2597