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NLPES Site Map

Research Resources

NCSL Listserves

LISTSERV is an automated system for maintaining Internet e-mail mailing lists. A mailing list sends e-mail to all subscribers to the list.  Some lists distribute messages posted by NCSL (e.g., newsletters, bulletins, calendar). Other lists enable the subscribers to post messages to the list that are then sent out (reflected) to all other subscribers--these lists create distributed conferences or discussion groups.

The method of subscribing to a list depends on the nature of the list.

Open lists: Anyone may subscribe to open lists. To join any of the open lists, send an e-mail message as follows:

You will get a "Welcome" message back if you are successful.

Closed lists: For the most part, only legislators and legislative staff or other authorized individuals can subscribe to closed lists. However, the subscription procedure for open lists also works for many of the closed lists. If the procedure doesn't work, e-mail the contact person for the closed list and asked to be added.

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To unsubscribe from a specific list (open or closed) address your Internet e-mail as follows:

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Send a message to subscribers by e-mailing Listname@NCSL.ORG (e.g., NLPES-L@NCSL.ORG). Leave three blank lines at the beginning of your message to allow room for some listserves' automatic warning statements.

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For those of you with NCSLnet usernames and passwords, you can access the archived messages (i.e., discussion threads) for listserves (and other news groups). After navigating to the login page, just click on "Browse All Groups" to access a list of available news groups. For many of these news groups, you can also submit new discussion items. Note: At this time, accessing a news group will not register you for any corresponding listserve. In other words, you will have to check the news group to see if new messages have been posted -- the messages will not be e-mailed to you. If you want messages to be e-mailed directly to you, you have to subscribe to the listserve (see above).

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When using listserves, please remember the following:

• Listserve authors should provide their e-mail address or telephone number for convenience. (If your e-mail software supports a signature line for outgoing mail, that expedient is nearly automatic.)
• When replying to a listserve e-mail, consider whether you should "broadcast" the response or contact the person directly by personal e-mail or telephone.

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OPEN mailing lists hosted on NCSLnet include the following:

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CLOSED mailing lists are restricted to legislators and legislative staff in most cases.

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