From: "Lorraine Olley, Preservation, IU Libraries, 812/855-6281" <OLLEY@UCS.INDIANA.EDU>
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 11:47:09 EST
Message-id: <"00KNb.0.TM3.nOBCn"@sul2>
Sender: Rare Books and Special Collections Forum <EXLIBRIS@RUTVM1.BITNET>
I think that what is emerging from the various comments about the
appropriateness of recent messages on this list is the recognition that
different groups of people use e-mail for different purposes. I monitor
EXLIBRIS and other lists to pick up on the current interests and concerns
of colleagues whose areas include consideration of preservation (e.g., special
collections, archives, collection development). I use the Conservation
Distlist for a very different purpose--to gather factual, often very
technical, information about the conservation of library materials and
artifacts. The fact that the Distlist is edited and monitored adds value to
it. By organizing messages under topics, providing a logical progression
of discussion, and forwarding information from even more specialized lists,
Walter Henry (the editor, who certainly has earned his vacation) makes the
list a terrific source for information. The fact that this sort of
editorial intervention is not suitable for EXLIBRIS does not make it invalid
for all e-mail lists.
Electronic mail is still a new communication medium, and is being shaped by
its users. I would opt for less commentary on the appropriateness of
particular messages, and more experimentation to discover what types of
communication (networking, data gathering, exchanging opinions, etc.) are
best suited to this medium.
Lorraine Olley
Preservation
Indiana University Libraries
olley@ucs.indiana.edu