[WEB4LIB] Free listserv service on the net

[Tim Tripp]

Hi Francesco,

Other than eGroups, I'm aware of two other free web-based mailing list services:

OneList http://www.onelist.com/
ListBot http://www.listbot.com/

I've used OneList in the past, for setting up a list for attendees to a session on
mailing list software that I did at the Ontario Libraries Association Conference. 
However, I found it confusing for users to sign up easily (this may have changed).  

Because of this, I've switched to Listbot for the sake of users, where I've got two
lists running, one for update announcments for the Librarians' Resource Centre, and
one for the executive of the Toronto Chapter of SLA to discuss chapter issues.  From
an administrators' point of view it's primary drawback is the inability to add a
large list of users.  This may not be an issue if you're creating a new list, but
makes moving an existing one to Listbot a bit more difficult - You have to "invite"
your members to subscribe, and can only do it 10 addresses at a time.  This is to
inhibit the use of Listbot for creating spamming lists which is admirable, if
annoying to legitimate list owners.

Both services have seemed reliable - and their web based administration is a treat
compared to the version of Majordomo I've been used to.  On the privacy issue, they
all guarantee privacy, and you have a number of options for keeping the list, list
members, and list archives protected from non-members.  Of course, your list is
ultimately in the hands of a third party (ListBot is owned by Microsoft), so a
certain amount of faith is required.

Cheers,

Tim

-- 
Tim Tripp. Librarian.  
MacDonald Dettwiler Space and Advanced Robotics Limited
http://www.mdrobotics.ca/
Voice : 905 790 2800 x.4108
Fax : 905 790 4423
                         
Work: ttripp at mdrobotics.ca
Home: ttripp at inforamp.net
ICQ : 38301750
http://www.inforamp.net/~ttripp

SLA Toronto Chapter - Home of the Librarians' Resource Centre
http://www.sla.org/chapter/ctor/

### There is a crack in everything.
### That's how the light gets in.
                          - Leonard Cohen

Francesco Giacanelli wrote:
> 
> (This msg. has been cross-posted: please, excuse duplications)
> 
> Our documentation center on blindness coordinates some other officies spread
> across Italy.
> In order to mainstream the communications among them, I was thinking about
> establishing an electronic discussion group.
> 
> As we have no direct access to Internet (we rely on commercial ISP) I would
> like to have informations about such a service on the net, possibly free of
> charge (I know only e-groups at http://www.egroups.com) and if they are
> reliable and could assure enough privacy for the service.
> 
> I appreciate also informations about other similar experiences.