Numerous indexes and abstracts of journal articles are also on-line, but again often only commercially. Bulletin Boards and Discussion Lists Bulletin Boards and Lists are another source of information. They work via e-mail. Bulletin Boards are just that. Items of news and notices about meetings, conferences, jobs, etc., are posted out electronically to subscribers and are there to be read when you log in.
Discussion lists are more participatory.
People send in points for discussion, questions or comments to the list, and they are sent on to all subscribers. Anyone can then reply or not as they wish. Since electronic communication is so fast, a culture of brief and immediate response has grown up among e-mail users. The proceedings on a List are more like a conversation than a series of written exchanges. There is a huge and ever-growing variety of Lists and Bulletin Boards catering to all interests.