Natural History Collections Listserver (NHCOLL-L) FAQ Sheet

Last Updated: 25 November 2003
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Purpose and History

NHCOLL-L is an electronic forum for those with an interest in the care, management, computerization, conservation and use of natural history collections. NHCOLL-L is co-sponsored by the Natural Science Collections Alliance (NSC) and the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections (SPNHC). Both NSC and SPNHC are dedicated to the preservation and care of natural history collections. Membership in NHCOLL-L is open to anyone with e-mail service.

NHCOLL-L is an unmoderated list, therefore we are dependent on the list members to provide only those postings that are appropriate to the subject matter, which includes topics such as collections administration, collections care, computerization, conservation, and management. Both policy and practical discussions are appropriate. While the list is sponsored by ASC and SPNHC, all individuals interested in the care of natural history collections are invited to participate. Information of all kinds is welcome, however, advertising is inappropriate. The volume of messages on NHCOLL-L varies, but generally runs between 15-30 per month.

In addition, because some subscribers to NHCOLL-L pay network access fees based upon the amount of material they receive, NHCOLL-L subscribers should always write succinctly and generally refrain from sending attachments (e.g., images) to the list along with messages. Private email arrangements should be made "off list" for such purposes.

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Owner

Greg Watkins-Colwell is the present “owner” (manager) of the NHCOLL-L discussion list. Please direct any questions you have about NHCOLL-L to him at: gregory.watkins-colwell@yale.edu.

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Software

NHCOLL-L is an electronic discussion list based on a Unix computer computer running Listproc. Warning: There are several different discussion list software programs being used on the Internet. The specific commands and functions can vary with each of these different software programs. This can be very confusing to people. Some of the most frequently used Listproc software commands are presented in this document.

If you are unacquainted with the Listproc commands and software, you can request additional information by sending an e-mail message to:

listproc@lists.yale.edu

and in the body of an e-mail message enter:

help

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Joining the List (Subscribing)

There are several methods of joining or subscribing to NHCOLL-L, depending on which computer systems or network you are using.

There is no cost for subscribing to the NHCOLL-L discussion list. However, there may be local service provider charges or connection charges for the electronic mail messages that you will receive. Check with your service provider or local computer support person, if this is an issue.

To subscribe to NHCOLL-L send the following in the body of an e-mail message addressed to listproc@lists.yale.edu

SUBSCRIBE NHCOLL-L your name

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Leaving the List (Unsubscribing)

If you don’t want to remain subscribed to the NHCOLL-L list, send the following in the body of an e-mail message addressed to listproc@lists.yale.edu

UNSUBSCRIBE NHCOLL-L

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Posting Messages

There are two addresses used in relation to the NHCOLL-L discussion list. Both are located on the host (lists.yale.edu). Administrative messages are sent to Listproc. Postings to the discussion list, which are then broadcast to the full membership, are sent to NHCOLL-L. Please do not send administrative messages to the NHCOLL-L address. Specific address formatting varies slightly from different networks.

After you receive a subscription confirmation, send your postings to the list using this address: NHCOLL-L@lists.yale.edu

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Managing and Controlling Your Messages

MAIL POSTPONE Command

If you’re interested in temporarily holding your NHCOLL-L messages (for example, you’re on vacation and unable to read your e-mail), send the following in the body of an e-mail message addressed to listproc@lists.yale.edu

SET NHCOLL-L MAIL POSTPONE

When you want to resume mail delivery, send the following in the body of an e-mail message addressed to listproc@lists.yale.edu

SET NHCOLL-L MAIL

Note that mail is held for you for the duration of the time you have set your options to MAIL POSTPONE. This differs from the behavior of the NOMAIL option of the former Listserv software, where you would temporarily not get postings and they weren’t being held.

MAIL DIGEST Command

With the DIGEST option ON the Listproc software will send one large message per day from the NHCOLL-L discussion list. This single message contains a table of contents and the full text of all the day’s messages. The DIGEST is distributed shortly after midnight local time. If you would like to switch to the DIGEST option, send the following in the body of an e-mail message addressed to listproc@lists.yale.edu

SET NHCOLL-L MAIL DIGEST

REVIEW Command

To see the list of subscribers (including yourself, to see what Listproc currently believes your email address is), send the following in the body of an e-mail message addressed to listproc@lists.yale.edu

REVIEW NHCOLL-L

SET Command

If you want to find out your current NHCOLL-L subscription settings, send the following in the body of an e-mail message addressed to listproc@lists.yale.edu

SET NHCOLL-L

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Searchable Archives

The Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University stores the NHCOLL-L e-mail archives as .zip files, one file for each calendar year’s worth of e-mail:

1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999
2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004
2005

Monthly log files are also available directly from Listproc. Because of disk space quotas on the Unix computer at Yale that holds these monthly NHCOLL-L files, the Listproc logs are typically retained only for the 3 most current months.

To get a listing of currently available Listproc log files, send the following one line e-mail message to listproc@lists.yale.edu

INDEX NHCOLL-L

and, for example, to retrieve a particular Listproc log file, send the following in the body of an e-mail message addressed to listproc@lists.yale.edu

GET NHCOLL-L logyymm

where yy is the last two digits of the year, and mm is the month.

These Listproc raw log files are large (sometimes more than a megabyte apiece). Some e-mail systems cannot handle very large files, and you may not want such a large file in your mailbox. The Listproc User’s Manual describes a rich array of other available database functions that allow you to query the NHCOLL-L Listproc log files for specific items. The source for the Listproc User’s Manual can be found at http://www.cren.net.

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Authors and Acknowledgements

This document is a clone of the FAQ for the Museum Discussion List (MUSEUM-L), with amendments to reflect NHCOLL-L and S.B.E.L. usage. The original MUSEUM-L document was written by John Chadwick and David Bridge. Tim White and Larry Gall made the amendments herein. Please send any corrections or suggestions for future additions or improvements to the NHCOLL-L FAQ to the listowner (see above).


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