Law-Lib Listserv FAQ

Here is some basic information about law-lib. Note that this is not an "official" document, and I am not involved in any way with the administration or management of this list. Much of this information is from the automatic subscription acknowledgement sent by the listproc software, and the general help file for the listproc software. Suggestions for improvements are welcome - please reply to me individually, rather than to the list.

The law-lib list is unmoderated, but you do have to be a subscriber in order to post messages to the list. Most of the subscribers to law-lib are law librarians. All types of law librarians are welcome on this list: academic, law firm, court, government, etc. Other individuals with an interest in law librarianship are also welcome to subscribe.

Topics of discussion vary. Some examples are: difficult legal reference questions, interlibrary loan requests, job announcements, information vendor problems, and policy discussions. Law-lib is not an appropriate place for messages asking for legal advice, or referrals to attorneys. Occasional, brief notices of new products or services from commercial entities may also be acceptable. For example, a notification of a new customer service 800 number or a new website URL would be appropriate.

NB: If you have not received any mail from the law-lib list for more than a day or two, you may have been involuntarily unsubscribed, or the list may have stopped sending messages to you. If this happens, try following the instructions to resume receiving messages from the list (set law-lib mail). If you receive a message indicating that you are not subscribed to the list, you will have to subscribe again. On occasion, you may need to try unsubscribing, then resubscribing.

When you want to post a message to the list, send it to:

The list owner is Judy Janes. Her e-mail address is: jcjanes@ucdavis.edu

You should contact her if there are problems that can't be solved using the commands below. For example, you may need to contact the list owner if you are having trouble unsubscribing because your e-mail address has changed since you subscribed.

Please do NOT send requests to subscribe, unsubscribe, change settings, etc. to the address for posting messages; instead direct them to:

For example, to signoff from the list, send a message to sympa@ucdavis.edu . The subject line of the message should contain the following text:
unsubscribe LAW-LIB
You should leave the body of the message blank, and delete any signature information from the end of the message. Note that unlike the old listproc system, Sympa prefers commands in the subject line, rather than in the body of your message.

• subscribe law-lib <your name>

The only way to subscribe to the list.
• unsubscribe law-lib or unsubscribe law-lib [subscribed e-mail address]

Two ways of removing yourself from the list.
• set law-lib nomail

Postpone receiving mail from law-lib temporarily, without unsubscribing.
• set law-lib mail

Resume receiving messages from law-lib.
• set law-lib digest

Instead of receiving all the individual messages posted to the list, receive a single file containing the text of all messages posted the previous day. Note that to end digest mode, you can send the command set law-lib mail.
• set law-lib digestplain

Same as above, but the digest is sent as a plain text message containing all of the attachments.
• review law-lib

Get a listing of all non-concealed people subscribed to the list.
• help

Get an extensive help file that lists all of the SYMPA commands.
• info law-lib

Get information about the law-lib list.

1. Use a detailed subject line in your messages to the list.
2. Make sure you don't send a personal message or reply to the entire list by mistake - double check the cc: line of the message before you send it.
3. Note whether a message requests you to reply to directly to the sender, rather than to the list. Most surveys will fall into this category.
4. If you are posting a reference or ILL request, indicate what sources you have already tried.
5. If you choose to post a 'thank you' message to the list, consider including the answer to your question, for the benefit of other list members.
6. Include your name, your organization, and your e-mail address in messages to the list, as some subscribers use e-mail software that removes the header information from incoming mail. This is also a courtesy to other list members, and shows that you are willing to stand behind what you say.
7. If you are going to be out of the office, and you set up an autoresponder (e.g. "Hi, I'm out of the office until next week . . .") on your e-mail account, remember to postpone mail from the list before you leave. If you don't, everyone who posts a message to the list will get your autoresponse.
8. Turn off html formatting when you post a message to the list. Almost all e-mail programs allow you to send messages as plain text, without the embellishments of html. The html code in messages appears as lengthy chunks of useless text in the digest version of the list, and users reading their e-mail on mobile devices with limited bandwidth shouldn't have to download all that extra html formatting info just to read the text of your message.
9. If your e-mail address is going to change, remember to unsubscribe from the list before the change. If you forget to do this ahead of time, you will probably not be able to do so once your address has changed. Failing to unsubscribe when your address changes or 'goes away' is what usually causes those error messages about undeliverable mail that people who post messages to the list receive.
10. If you are about to post a strongly worded message, or a reply to a message which you disagree with, consider postponing it overnight. You may decide to rework it after the heat of the moment has cooled a bit.

Christopher Noe
Assistant Director / Head of Public Services
noe@olemiss.edu
Grisham Law Library
University of Mississippi