X-Envelope-to: nettrain@ubvm.cc.buffalo.edu
X-VMS-To: @NETTRAIN
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.nettrain
Date:         Wed, 6 Jan 1993 10:21:00 CST
From:         Jim Milles <MILLESJG@SLUVCA.SLU.EDU>
Subject:      NETTRAIN Mission Statement and New Subscriber Info.

                             NETTRAIN
                        Mission Statement
                  and New Subscriber Information
                        (Revised 12/15/92)


     (This message is posted periodically for new subscribers,
and as a reminder for long-time NETTRAINers.)

******************* PLEASE KEEP THIS POSTING! *******************


1.  PURPOSE AND AUDIENCE

         NETTRAIN is intended to serve two purposes: (1) to be a
    forum or clearinghouse for the exchange of information,
    advice, and resources for the purpose of training others in
    the use of BITNET and the Internet; and (2) to provide a
    medium for wide-ranging discussion of practical, theoretical,
    and philosophical issues regarding training in the use of the
    worldwide Internet.

         NETTRAIN, then, is a discussion list for "net
    trainers"--which does *not* necessarily mean "net experts."
    Anyone who is responsible for, or interested in, helping
    teach others to use the wealth of resources available through
    BITNET and the Internet is welcome.  "NETTRAINers" vary
    widely in skill levels.  Some are network managers at large
    research universities; others are simply those who have found
    themselves assigned the job of training others to use BITNET
    and Internet because they have shown the initiative to learn
    a little on their own.  We learn best by teaching others.

         However, NETTRAIN is NOT for beginners, or for
    beginners' questions.  There exist other forums to meet these
    needs.  For instance, those who are just beginning to learn
    their way around the Internet may find HELP-NET@TEMPLEVM
    better suited to their needs.  Those who are looking for
    discussion lists on particular topics may find
    NEW-LIST@NDSUVM1 to be of help.  (To subscribe to HELP-NET,
    send the command SUBSCRIBE HELP-NET Your Name to
    LISTSERV@TEMPLEVM; to subscribe to NEW-LIST, send the command
    SUBSCRIBE NEW-LIST Your Name to LISTSERV@NDSUVM1.)


2.  EDITORIAL POLICY

         NETTRAIN is a moderated list; messages to NETTRAIN are
    first sent to the listowner, who screens out misdirected
    subscribe/unsubscribe commands, personal replies mistakenly
    sent to the list, and (in some cases) messages that are
    inappropriate to the purpose of NETTRAIN.  In addition,
    subscribers should note that the best way to handle
    inappropriate postings (whether flames or simply off-topic
    messages) is either to send a *friendly* message to the
    sender, or to ignore it.  Flame-fests tend to burn out if
    people quit adding fuel to the flames, and discussion soon
    returns to the topic of the list.


3.  CONTENT

         Appropriate topics for discussion include: methods and
    styles of teaching BITNET and Internet; division of teaching/
    support responsibilities among interested parties at an
    institution (e.g., faculty, librarians, computing department
    personnel); announcements of in-house training materials or
    of Bitnet/Internet resources useful in training; lists or
    guides to BITNET/Internet resources in specific subject
    areas; and so on.

         Periodically NETTRAIN posts reviews of new books,
    videos, and other materials about Internet.  Electronic
    communication permits reviews to be written and distributed
    much faster than traditional print media.


4.  SEARCHING THE MAILING LIST ARCHIVE

         All list messages are maintained in archive form by the
    mailing list's LISTSERV.  While it is possible to obtain the
    entire contents of these archives by sending the appropriate
    "get filename" command, this can result in receiving
    quantities of information which may be dated or simply of
    little interest.   By sending a simple e-mail message you can
    search the archives of a mailing list for material related to
    a specific topic.

         For example, the following e-mail message sent to the
    NETTRAIN listserv (LISTSERV@UBVM or
    LISTSERV@ubvm.cc.buffalo.edu) will retrieve an index to the
    messages on this list containing references to the term
    "ZEN."

         //  JOB  Echo=No
         Database Search DD=Rules
         //Rules DD   *
         Search Zen in nettrain since 92/6/1
         Index
         /*

         Note: any term or list or date can be substituted in the
    above example.

         The LISTSERV will send either an email message or
    networkfile in response. The index file will note the date,
    time, size and subject of list entries related to the search
    term.  A second message to the mailing list's LISTSERV
    requests the fulltext of selected messages from that index
    file.

         //  JOB  Echo=No
         Database Search DD=Rules
         //Rules DD   *
         Search Zen in nettrain since 92/6/1
         Print all of 6 36 37 39
         /*

         [From Dana Noonan, "A Guide to Internet/Bitnet" (St.
    Paul: Metronet, 1992) (available via anonymous FTP from
    HYDRA.UWO.CA, dir LIBSOFT, file GUIDE1.TXT).]

         (For complete documentation on the LISTSERV database
    functions, send the command INFO DATABASE to LISTSERV@UBVM or
    your nearest LISTSERV site.)


5.  COMMENTS

Your comments and suggestions are welcome.  Please send them to
James Milles, listowner and moderator of NETTRAIN, at
millesjg@sluvca.slu.edu.

----------------------------------------------------------------
James Milles (Listowner, NETTRAIN)         Phone: (314) 658-2759
Head of Computer Services                    Fax: (314) 658-3966
Saint Louis University Law Library
3700 Lindell Blvd.             Internet: millesjg@sluvca.slu.edu
St. Louis, MO  63108
----------------------------------------------------------------
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU