SERIALST documentation (Scope & Purpose) for use guidelines and command
options has recently been updated.  Since some of the changes are
significant -- particularly for accessing the SERIALST archives -- I am
appending the latest documentation below.  An HTML version of this file is
updated regularly and available on the web at:
http://www.uvm.edu/~bmaclenn/serialst.html.  -- Birdie

                       WELCOME TO SERIALST
                     (Please Save this Message)

Welcome to SERIALST!  Here is some basic information about the
forum, including Scope and Purpose, basic LISTSERV commands and
how to retrieve information from the archives.  This document is
also maintained and periodically updated on the World Wide Web at
URL:      http://www.uvm.edu/~bmaclenn/serialst.html

                                       (Revised May 1997)

                          SERIALST SCOPE & PURPOSE -
                       INCLUDING FILESERVER INFORMATION &
                           SELECTED COMMAND OPTIONS

 TABLE OF CONTENTS:
       1.0. Scope & Purpose
       2.0. Disclaimer
       3.0. Selected Command Options
             3.1. Cancelled from SERIALST?
       4.0. Retrieving Information From SERIALST's Archives
             4.1. Searching the Archives via E-Mail
             4.2. SERIALST Web Archives
       5.0. Contact Information: Listowner & Moderators

1.0. SCOPE & PURPOSE

SERIALST (Serials in Libraries Discussion Forum) was established in
October 1990, with technical support from the Office of Academic Computing
at the University of Vermont (UVM), in order to serve as an informal
electronic forum for most aspects of serials processing in libraries.
Appropriate topics include (but are not limited to): cataloging,
acquisitions, collection management, serials budgets and pricing concerns,
binding, preservation, microfilm and other non print serials media, union
list activities, announcements, news, and job postings that are of
interest to the serials community. ** SERIALST is NOT A FORUM FOR THE
TRADE OR EXCHANGE OF DUPLICATE, UNWANTED, OR WANTED SERIALS. ** There are
several forums for Back Issues and Exchange Services on the Internet (or
see: http://www.uvm.edu/~bmaclenn/backexch.html for a listing).

            SERIALST's subscriber base is currently at @2520 subscribers
            in 34 countries.

Prior to November 25, 1991, SERIALST was an unmoderated forum. On November
25, parameters of the LISTSERV software (which supports SERIALST) were
changed to support collaboration between multiple moderators, in different
geographic locations. Messages that are sent to SERIALST are reviewed by
the moderators, who then forward messages on appropriate topics to
subscribers of SERIALST. When sending mail to SERIALST, please keep it to
350 lines or less and break longer messages into multiple, short, "serial"
messages. Address messages to:

                      SERIALST@LIST.UVM.EDU

(please do not send mail intended for the list to individual moderators'
addresses which inevitably causes confusion and slows our ability to post)

Please read messages carefully for appropriate addresses before
automatically sending your reply. PLEASE NOTE that when you "reply"
directly to a SERIALST message, you are usually (but not always) replying
back to the list, and not necessarily to the individual who sent the
message. While we make every attempt to screen messages carefully, we
cannot take responsibility for forwarding replies intended for individuals
to the appropriate person. Please take care in your responses. Make sure
that replies not intended for the list are directed to the appropriate
address.

SERIALST's policy toward cross-posting of messages from other lists is
that it's generally fine -- SO LONG AS THE CROSS-POSTED MESSAGE IS FROM
THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR of the message. However, we will forward other
people's messages ONLY if we have the permission of the original author of
the message -- unless the message is obviously very public and intended
for cross-posting (as in general library or networking news messages that
are important, timely, and relevant to the subscribership). If you want to
post someone else's message to SERIALST, please get their permission
before you send it to the list.

Selected postings from SERIALST, related to serials pricing, may also
appear in the electronic publication: Newsletter on Serials Pricing
Issues. Subscribers to SERIALST will benefit from a more in depth look at
serial pricing concerns if they also subscribe to the Newsletter on
Serials Pricing Issues (to subscribe send a one line message: SUBSCRIBE
PRICES <your name>, to:  Listproc@unc.edu, or contact the editor, Marcia
Tuttle at: Tuttle@gibbs.oit.unc.edu).

2.0. DISCLAIMER

*** Disclaimer: The University of Vermont offers SERIALST as a public
service. It does not verify the accuracy of submitted messages, nor does
it endorse opinions expressed by contributors to the SERIALST forum.
Authors of messages to SERIALST are solely responsible for their content.
The moderators reserve the right to reject postings that do not fall
within the scope and purpose of the list. ***

3.0. SELECTED COMMAND OPTIONS

NOTE: Send all commands to: LISTSERV@LIST.UVM.EDU

SUBSCRIBE SERIALST <your name> - To join the discussion forum.

UNSUBSCRIBE SERIALST - To unsubscribe from (or signoff of) the discussion
forum. SIGNOFF SERIALST doesthe same thing (N.B.: Do not add your name or
e-mail address to the UNSUBSCRIBE or SIGNOFF command -- if you do, your
request will be rejected by the LISTSERV software).

 * SET <mail distribution option> Commands:
 SET SERIALST MAIL  - to receive individual mail messages as they are
                       posted to the list (default setting).

 SET SERIALST NOMAIL - to stop list mail from being delivered to your
                        address; to resume mail, issue the SET SERIALST MAIL
                        command.
 SET SERIALST DIGEST - to receive daily digests of all messages posted
                        to the list (1750 line limit).
 SET SERIALST INDEX - to receive daily index summaries of mail posted
                        to the list.

 * NOTE about SET Options: You can only SET one mail distribution option
at a time. You have to choose one option that best suits your needs at a
given time.

QUERY SERIALST - Displays your mail distribution option settings (i.e.,
whether or not you are set to "digest", or "nomail", et al.); will also
tell you whether or not you are signed onto the list.

REVIEW SERIALST - To retrieve a list of subscribers to SERIALST (name and
e-mail address), arranged alpha by @ (i.e., e-mail address).

REVIEW SERIALST BY NAME - To retrieve a list of subscribers to SERIALST,
arranged by last name.

INFO REFCARD - To retrieve a more complete listing of General User
Commands (i.e., the LISTSERV Reference Card) for LISTSERV 1.8c.

** The above commands can be sent by: sending the command as a one line
message to:  LISTSERV@LIST.UVM.EDU

Please don't send LISTSERV commands to the SERIALST address. The LISTSERV
address is for issuing COMMANDS, while the SERIALST address is for
messages intended for the distribution to the subscribership.

3.1. CANCELLED FROM SERIALST?

You may be cancelled from SERIALST without notification if certain network
complications arise. If you fail to receive SERIALST messages for an
inordinate amount of time, use the QUERY or REVIEW command (as described
in the preceding list of commands) to find out if your name is present on
the distribution list.  If you are experiencing problems with your
subscription and need human intervention, send an e-mail message to:
SERIALST-REQUEST@LIST.UVM.EDU

4.0. RETRIEVING INFORMATION FROM SERIALST's ARCHIVES

All messages to SERIALST are automatically archived by month. You may
retrieve the monthly archives by issuing the command: GET SERIALST LOGyymm
(ex., get serialst log9606) to: LISTSERV@LIST.UVM.EDU. The server will
automatically send the monthly archive that is specified (since Oct.
1990).

4.1. SEARCHING THE ARCHIVES via E-MAIL

It is possible to search the entire SERIALST message database via the web
or by submitting an e-mail message/search request to LISTSERV@LIST.UVM.EDU

You may cut and paste the following search line into an e-mail message
(overlay the "<add keyword search terms here>" text with keywords that
are appropriate to your search).  Send the template/e-mail message to:
LISTSERV@LIST.UVM.EDU. Leave the subject line blank.

The search syntax is:

Search <add keyword search terms here*> in SERIALST since <date=yy/mm/dd**>

* where keywords = your search term(s). You may use Boolean logic.
** you may, optionally, specify a date limitation, rather than searching
the entire database.

for example:
--------------------clip here----------------------

        search worst and 'title change' in serialst since 97/03/10

--------------------clip here----------------------

You may also search by BOOLEAN queries and/or search limitations by date.
To obtain more information about search commands, send a HELP message to:
LISTSERV@LIST.UVM.EDU

4.2. SERIALST WEB ARCHIVES

* The entire SERIALST archives (since Oct. 1990) are now available through
the web. The SERIALST archives are automatically updated whenever a
message is posted to the list. The easiest way to access the archives is
to go to the SERIALST home page at:
http://www.uvm.edu/~bmaclenn/serialst.html

or to the SERIALST archive  on the web at:
http://list.uvm.edu/archives/serialst.html

You can search the SERIALST archives and/or explore Searching list
archives help pages to obtain search tips for using the archive database.
from these two web sources.

5.0. CONTACT INFORMATION: LISTOWNER AND MODERATORS

For additional information about SERIALST contact:

 Birdie MacLennan
 Listowner & Moderator
 University of Vermont
 bmaclenn@uvmvm.uvm.edu or:
 bmaclenn@zoo.uvm.edu

  Marcia Tuttle
  Associate Moderator
  Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  tuttle@gibbs.oit.unc.edu

   Ann Ercelawn
   Associate Moderator
   Vanderbilt University
   ercelaa@ctrvax.vanderbilt.edu or:
   ercelawn@library.vanderbilt.edu