Communicating with others on OZTL_NET
 
 

Posting your messages to the public OZTL_NET list

When posting a message to OZTL_NET, you must use the Internet
listserv address OZTL_NET@listserv.csu.edu.au . If you post a message
to OZTL_NET, please note that you WILL also receive a copy of your
message from the list.

 
Posting your first message to OZTL_NET

OZTL_NET is an online discussion forum for the Australian TL community.
We encourage new members to introduce themselves to all OZTL_NET
members by:

1. posting your first message to OZTL_NET@listserv.csu.edu.au

2. in the subject line, type INTRO, eg. INTRO: Lyn Hay

3. in the message field include a brief personal note. Include any 
    details about yourself and/or your school/work situation, eg.

"Hi OZTL_NET members. My name is Lyn Hay. I am a lecturer
in teacher librarianship at Charles Sturt University. My
teaching and research interests include teacher librarian and
principal roles in supporting information literacy and services
in schools; integration of ICT in organisations (particularly
online communities and workgroups); information leadership
in schools; and information policy issues. I am also Content
Editor of the International Association of School Librarianship
(IASL) Newsletter, and have coordinated a number of
Internet-based professional development initiatives for
the teacher librarianship community, including administration of OZTL_NET ."

4. End your message with an email signature , including your name,
    email address, school/work address and contact information, eg.

 

OZTL_NET address: There are two, each for a different purpose

Many features of this discussion list are automated. The mailing list
server automatically handles two types of messages using separate addresses through which it receives its email message commands:

1. To send messages to the public OZTL_NET list, use the address:
    OZTL_NET@listserv.csu.edu.au

2. For administrative listserv requests (ie. to the listserv computer)
    use the Internet address OZTL_NET-request@listserv.csu.edu.au

3. We specifically request that members do not post administrative
    and techical requests (such as 'unsubscribe' commands or 'test'
    messages to the public OZTL_NET list address.
   

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Subject line keywords

Subject line keywords are designed to allow individuals the opportunity to gauge the relevance of posted messages listed in their mailbox. This is a form of mail control which assists OZTL_NET members to sort through their email based on content-related keywords. The current subject line keywords include:
 

NOTE: Wherever possible, members are encouraged to use at least one (or more) subject line keywords, where appropriate.

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Stopping mail from OZTL_NET

There are two methods of stopping mail from OZTL_NET.

1. Temporarily:

    If you wish to stop receiving mail from OZTL_NET temporarily (eg.
    before going on holidays) you can now edit your subscription settings
    via your personal subscription webpage.

    You will have received the URL and password to your personal
    subscription webpage within your Welcome message (received upon
    subscription). As an OZTL_NET member, you also receive a friendly
    reminder on the first date of each month from the address
    <mailman-owner@listserv.csu.edu.au> with this information.

    If you did not keep either of these messages, you can compile your own
    URL based on the following formula (below) using the username and
    domain name within your email address, ie.

 http://listserv.csu.edu.au/mailman/options/oztl_net/username--at--domain

    For example, if your email address is <jsmith@tcb.edu.au>, you would
    go to the following URL:

 http://listserv.csu.edu.au/mailman/options/oztl_net/jsmith--at--tcb.edu.au

    Please ensure you use the double dashes and the word 'at' as above.
    Click here for an image of this personal subscription webpage example.

    Select the 'On' button for the 'Disable Mail Delivery' option and then
    submit this change by entering your password and clicking on the
    'Submit My Changes' button.

NB: OZTL_NET will cease delivery of all future mail until you visit your personal subscription webpage again, and select the 'Off' button for the 'Disable Mail Delivery' option and then submit this change by entering your password and clicking on the 'Submit My Changes' button.

2. Permanently:

    If you wish to stop receiving mail from OZTL_NET permanently (ie.
    unsubscribe), you can now do this via your personal subscription
    webpage (see section 1 for details re access to your own personal
    subscription URL).

    Simply type in your password before clicking on the 'Unsubscribe' button.

NB: you will stop receiving OZTL_NET posts (almost) immediately. And you will need to complete the subscribe procedures again to join OZTL_NET in future.

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Using the Target/Hit as a discussion tool

OZTL_NET adopts the LM_NET** initiative of the TARGET/HIT as a discussion tool. The OZTL_NET administrators recommend that OZTLs specifically TARGET-> their queries, and use a HIT-> summary to share their responses received.

That is, when someone wants information about a topic (eg. AFW stocktake) they would ask for people to respond to them directly, and after a period of time, post a summary or compilation of responses. The originator of the TARGET-> question uses that term in the subject line of the initial question that is posted to the entire list.

For example, "TARGET-> AFW Stocktaking Procedures" would appear in the subject line of the message. In the body of the message the person might say something like the following:

"Hi, OZTLs. I would like to TARGET-> AFW stocktaking procedures. It is coming up to the end of Term 3 and I'm planning how to implement my first AFW automated stocktake. I'd like to find out how other OZTLs implement their stocktake, ie. do you do it in one go, or do a bit at the end of each term? Do you allow users to borrow or do you close the library? What problems or advantages do you face using your current set of procedures? If people will respond to me, I'll compile your responses and post A HIT-> on the topic back to the list. TIA, John Smith < jsmith@tcb.edu.au >"

When enough responses are collected, the originator summarizes or compiles the responses, and posts the summary as a HIT-> so everyone on the list can read, if they are interested. This is an excellent way to streamline list traffic on requests for information, as well as OZTLs providing an information service for their colleagues.
 

RESPECTING MEMBER'S PRIVACY AND IP IN A HIT
When posting a request for ideas/suggestions with the intention of compiling responses into a HIT, please ask respondents in your original request to state whether they wish their name to be included (or not) in the HIT posted back to the public list. 

Please note that some people offer good ideas and wish for their contribution to be acknowledged, whereas other members may prefer to share information with the list without their identity being made public. As a professional  online community, we need to respect the privacy and intellectual property of all.

OZTL_NET administration therefore recommends that members responding to a HIT request must clearly indicate their preference to be acknowledged (or not) for their contribution to a HIT. 

For example, if you state 'Please cite' (or similar), this will require the person compiling the HIT to include your name/affiliation with your contribution. If you state 'Do not cite me re this' (or similar), this will mean that the compiler of the HIT must not include your name/affiliation with your contribution.
 

What happens if people DO NOT indicate one way or the other?
OZTL_NET is a public forum and we ask that all members posting messages to the list provide some form of identity or signature at the end of each post. This helps each of us identify who our fellow community members are, and it can provide us with a context as to the nature or perspective of some contributions (esp. potentially sensitive ones).

In the past, it has been assumed that members' contributions to a HIT also be identified... after all, it's nice to know where all these good ideas originate! 

OZTL_NET ADMIN therefore recommends that all responses to a Target/Hit request be considered 'available for public consumption' unless the respondent clearly states they wish to remain anonymous. The bottom line here is this: If a response to a HIT does not follow protocol and indicate whether the respondent's identity is to be included (or not), the compiler will assume that both the content of the response and the respondents details be included as part of the HIT.

On the other hand, if a member wishes to post a HIT of compiled responses as a result of a request that was not originally flagged as a Target/Hit, that member should firstly seek permission from respondents to include contributions in the form of a HIT.
 

SUMMARY: TARGET/HIT-> is a four-step process:

1. The TARGET-> originator proposes the subject for answering/ 
    commenting, i.e. TARGET-> AFW Stocktake Procedures.

2. Those interested in the subject send their responses to the
    _originator_ of the TARGET-> question. Please do NOT post the
    response to the group.

3. TARGET-> originator summarizes or collates the responses; and then,

4. Posts the summarized responses to the entire list, using the original
    subject of their message as a HIT->. i.e., HIT-> AFW Stocktake 
    Procedures.

** We thank Peter Milbury and Mike Eisenberg, LM_NET Co-owners for developing this innovation to support Internet discussions on a list such as OZTL_NET.