Newsgroups: bit.listserv.medlib-l
Date:         Mon, 13 Apr 1992 11:42:56 EDT
From:         Nancy Start <HSLSTART@UBVM.BITNET>
Subject:      Moderating MEDLIB-L

MEDLIB-L Readers -

Regarding the recent comments about moderating the list...

When I established MEDLIB-L in January of 1991, it was my hope
that it could remain unmoderated.  I expected there would be
"mistakes", but hoped they would be rare enough not to become
disruptive.  As the list has grown in size (now 770+
subscribers), the number of misdirected "set nomails",
"subscribes" and "unsubscribes" has increased.  Remaining
unmoderated also leaves the list open for the totally out-of-
scope postings (reference questions from non-librarians and, yes,
a job announcement for a physician...).

At this time, I am still not in favor of moderating the list.
However, I have reached the point where I am willing to consider
it.  If MEDLIB-L subscribers are strongly in favor of moderation,
I will give it a try.

The positive side of moderation would be the elimination of the
"noise" (mistakes and misdirected messages).  I cringe each time
one of these is distributed through MEDLIB-L.  I don't want
subscribers' mailboxes or time cluttered with nonsense.

The "down-side" of moderation is breaking the flow of the
discussion.  Distribution of messages would become dependant on
my schedule.  On most days, postings would be sent out only once
a day.  If I'm not here, they may not be sent out at all.  The
current free-flowing atmosphere is one of the things I enjoy most
about this list.  I would feel bad about losing it.

Another drawback of moderation is the censorship imposed by
editing.  Currently, any subscriber who wishes to post a message
makes her/his own decision as to whether the topic may be of
interest to other medical librarians.  That really is the scope
of the Medical Libraries Discussion List:  whatever is of
interest to the medical library professionals who subscribe to
the list.  With such a broadly defined discussion list, each
message is not going to be of interest to every subscriber.  If I
were to moderate the list, I would not want to change this - I
would not want to impose my personal viewpoint on what is "of
interest" to medical librarians.  The only postings which I would
NOT forward to the list would be the mistakes and misdirected
messages.  But, I can't be sure - the power of being an editor
could corrupt me...  :-)

Moderating would also require an additional time commitment from
me. I already spend anywhere from a few minutes to an hour or
more each day dealing with bounced mail and other problems and
questions.  For all of those misdirected postings to which you
say "Argh!" and delete, I say "Argh!" and then have to do
something about them...

So, MEDLIB-L Readers, you have my views on moderating MEDLIB-L.
I would like to hear your opinions.  Has the noise overcome the
substance?  Or does the speed and flow of the current unmoderated
list make up for the noise?

Nancy

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*  Nancy Start               //                                 *
*  MEDLIB-L List Owner       //   Phone... (716) 831-3337       *
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