Listserv does provide other facilities, but none of it without user involvement of some sort 1) TOPICS 2) INDEX 3) new lists 4) REPLY-TO= SENDER 5) more education (via a WELCOME file) TOPICS -- requires the cooperation of the list-owner to initially (and on rare occasion continually) to setup a list definition keyword that defines topics. Topics are "slugs" that appear on the SUBJECT: line of a posting in a particular snntax. Then posters must/should select the topical area for each posting, and subscribers should have previously altered their subscription distibution topical "filter." This only works in individual e-mail distributions, and NOT DIGEST nor INDEX. Works best with advanced e-mail users or moderated postings. INDEX -- is a method of distribution that sends the user a table of contests of recent postings (list must be archived) and a LISTSERV script (in LDBASE format) for retrieving one or more of those postings. New Lists -- Self explanatory REPLY-TO: SENDER -- Another list definition keyword that tells the LISTSERV to generate distributions so that if the user invokes the standard e-mail REPLY function, that the posting will be returned to the original poster and not to the entire list. (This technique has just been started to be used on one of the hyperactive lists that I co-operate -- time will tell how the subscribership likes it). WELCOME file -- Each list can have a welcome file sent to new subscribers. In there, among other things, you describe expected topics, expected behaviour, how to deal with other netiquette items. -- co-owner INFOSYS, TQM-L, CPARK-L, ERAPPA-L, JANITORS, LDBASE-L, et -L URL:mailto:[log in to unmask] "Is your Kiosk system beer-proof?" 31 Shields Bldg. -- Penn State -- University Park, PA 16802-1202 USA