How to do research on the internet

Finding discussion lists

To find appropriate lists you can use directories. Once you have identified a suitable discussion group you will need to join by sending a special message to a given email address.

Some useful directories include:

• Ozlists: http://www.gu.edu.au/ozlists/ Australian electronic mailing lists
• National Academic Mailing List Service (UK): http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/ (previously named Mailbase)
• CataList: http://www.lsoft.com/lists/listref.html
• Google Groups: http://groups.google.com/ (Usenet discussion forums)

There will be instructions available for joining and leaving a particular list. For example, many lists use the LISTSERV® software to manage and control e-mail lists. The instructions for these will be something like:

1. Send an email message addressed to the email address provided in the "Subscription" field.
2. Leave the subject line blank. The text of the message must read:
   SUBSCRIBE LISTNAME Yourfirstname Yourlastname Your Institution