What is a LISTSERV mailing list?
A LISTSERV mailing list is based on a computer program called LISTSERV that allows people to create, manage, and control electronic mailing lists. Each list has a topic of interest, just as a company might have a postal mailing list to distribute a catalog. To avoid requiring everyone within a mailing group to maintain a separate alias or nickname for the group, the LISTSERV product maintains a single list of subscribers that everyone can use. Sometimes mailing lists are public; that is, anyone with an email account anywhere in the world can subscribe. Sometimes lists are private or confidential. In this case, the list’s owner or sponsor can subscribe people, and LISTSERV won’t let anyone else know about the list. Mailing lists can make sending mail to groups of people much easier, especially if the membership of the group is constantly changing. Group members need only to maintain their own addresses and subscription status. You may often hear people refer to any mailing list as a “li
• A listserver is a system designed to simplify the process of sending the same message to a group of people via e-mail. • The e-mail is sent to the mailing list address, and the listserver distributes the message to everyone who is subscribed to the mailing list. • Listserv mailing lists (also referred to as listservs) are very adaptable. For example, lists can be configured to facilitate discussion among list members, or to act as a one-way communication pipeline to subscribers. • List owners can add and remove subscribers, or allow users to subscribe and un-subscribe themselves. For a complete description of listserver features and functions see the Listproc manuals at SourceForge.net. To apply for an mailing list on OSU’s Listproc system, fill out the online Mailing list (listserv) application.
