Sender: Rare Books and Special Collections Forum <EXLIBRIS@RUTVM1.BITNET>
From: Peter Graham, Rutgers University
Bill Moffett is absolutely correct, of course. However the ambiance throughout
the network is to be somewhat tolerant of the newcomer on lists, as the
signposts aren't up yet and the path is barely blazed, much less paved.
Bill, would you post the name and address of the conservation list as a help
to people who might need it?
With over 500 people on this list we can assume that those of who have been
here for a while -- in special collections, that is -- can help a fellow
creature on his or her path from time to time, for many of the rest will have
come into the library (to extend Bill's metaphor) just to browse, and notice
a knowledgeable person standing next to them. We needn't send them down to
the front desk if they just need the way to the pencil sharpener.
But the newcomers should also take care: some other newcomers will also bew
answering their questions, and you might in fact want to check with some
more authoritative sources than the person who happens to answer first. So
being aware of other listservs is a good idea.
PACS-L is a good list to subscribe to for that reason (listserv@uhupvm1.bitnet)
as its moderator, Charles Bailey, regularly sends out a list of *all*
library-related mail groups; there are close to a hundred. I notice by
the way that the conservation one isn't a "standard" listserv. W. Henry
(who is noted as its moderator), would you care to comment?
And can you do that and remove gum at the same time?
--pg