You may have noticed some changes recently in the way NHAIS e-mail works. No, we haven't upgraded the software but we have implemented a mailing list for NHAIS libraries. Mailing lists (frequently called list-servs, the same way photocopying is called xeroxing), allow users to subscribe, unsubscribe, and post messages to everyone else on the list. Many librarians have been asking for this feature for years and we finally have it. NHAIS-L is the list for all NHAIS member libraries. It was introduced, with limited fanfare, at the NHLA/NHEMA Spring Conference. To make it easier to use, Bill Pariseau manually subscribed all members of the NHAIS distribution list to NHAIS-L.

Why the change? The NHAIS distribution list (@dka200:[common] nhais) only let librarians logged onto NHAIS to send messages. This is a very restrictive way to let people communicate with one another especially due to the number of you that have your own e-mail addresses. NHAIS-L allows anyone, from any e-mail address, to read and post messages to the list. It also solves the problem about one NHAIS HSA code per library. If the director, children's librarian, and reference librarian all want to read the messages on NHAIS-L all they have to do it subscribe from their e-mail account.

So, how do you subscribe, unsubscribe, or post a message? It is pretty simple. First, if nothing has changed in your library recently, you can continue the way you've sent mail for years and it will go through. Mail sent to the old NHAIS distribution list is automatically forwarded to the NHAIS-L list. You will see a new footer information which I'll explain in a minute, but otherwise everything else is the same. If you have been receiving mail since May, you are already subscribed! If you haven't, or you never were on the list, follow the instructions below.

.To subscribe, send a message to nhais-l-subscribe@webster.state.nh.us. Leave the message blank. If you can't leave it blank, don't worry, the program will ignore it.

.Once the initial subscription message has been received, you will receive a confirmation message. Just reply to the message with a blank message and you are all set to begin posting.

.To post a message, send it to nhais-l@webster.state.nh.us. Everyone on the list will receive a copy. (Remember, if you are logged into NHAIS you can still send the message to @dka200:[common]nhais)

.If you don't want to receive messages anymore, send a blank message to nhais-l-unsubscribe@webster. state.nh.us. Once again you will need to confirm you don't want to remain on the list. Once you reply to that message, you will be removed.

Questions about the new lists can be directed to Theresa Paré‚ (271-2143) or Bill Pariseau (271-2141).