INTRODUCTION AND GUIDE 
(Revised Spring 2000)

The name of our NC SLA Chapter list is "NCSLA" and it was launched in 1994 to serve as an electronic discussion forum for members of the North Carolina Chapter of the Special Libraries Association. The list manager is Barbara Semonche <semonch@metalab.unc.edu>. The list is housed on the MetaLab server on the UNC-CH campus. NCSLA subscribers, numbering 241 as of April 19, 2000, can post to this list by addressing email to:

NCSLA@listserv.oit.unc.edu

JOINING THE CONVENTIONAL (EMAIL) LIST

NCSLA is an open list meaning that anyone interested in special libraries, particularly, but not exclusively, in North Carolina, are welcome to subscribe. To subscribe to NCSLA, follow these directions:

1. address an email to <listproc@listserv.oit.unc.edu>

2. leave the subject line blank, and delete any signature files or "virtual card" attachments to the message

3. type this one-line message in the text area: Subscribe NCSLA (your first last name) [Note: no need to include your email address.]

4. send the message

Shortly you will receive an email indicating that you have been added to the NCSLA subscribers list.

NCSLA ON THE WEB

A significant change took place on December 21, 1999. The NCSLA list expanded from its strictly text-based format to a web-based format called "Lyris." Details about this change are explained below. 

What we have now is "dual" system for our NCSLA list.

The older version (pre-Lyris and non-web based), still works and will continue (with some limitations in request permissions for subscribers) for a while. That means that subscribers can post messages, read and reply, as well as subscribe from NCSLA just as they have always done. What subscribers can't do is unsubscribe from the list, postpone messages, arrange a digest of messages, or search the older archived messages (pre-Lyris). For those options, you have contact me, Barbara Semonche, your NCSLA list administrator.

The new version, Lyris <http://lyris.unc.edu>, offers some additional features to our NCSLA subscribers, namely that:

- subscribers can view our list messages on the web
- select messages to be viewed by "thread" (*not* quite the same as subject classification, however)
- sort messages by date or author.
- search by key words in the entire message, body or header.

Selected other options governing your email settings will be available to subscribers.

JOIN NCSLA ON THE WEB

So, those NCSLA subscribers wishing to continue as they always have may do so. Those who wish to enter the brave, new world of email on the web are now free to do so. Here's how:

1. Launch your browser.

2. Type in this URL http://lyris.unc.edu. (Note: you may wish to bookmark this URL.)

3. Select "Visit a List" from the displayed menu.

4. From the UNC Lyris Server screen select "N - sorted by initial letter"

5. From the next screen, scroll down until you see "ncsla." Click on it.

6. Now you are at the gateway to NCSLA. Enter your full email address, and select one of these two options:

a. if you are a "new" subscriber (since Dec. 1999) you simply select "Click here to enter ncsla;" then follow the rest of the screen options given to you.

b. if you are a "veteran" subscriber (pre-Dec. 1999) simply select whatever item on the menu you wish from any of several listed options:

* Read Messages (Note: you can read current and previous messages, at least from Dec. 21, 1999, sorted by thread/subject, or date or author.)

* Create a New Message

* Examine your (and only your) settings. (Note: here is where you can create an optional password if you wish to enhance your security. Warning: Don't forget it. If you do, contact me, Barbara Semonche <semonch@metalab.unc.edu>, NCSLA list manager.)

* Leave (unsubscribe NCSLA)

* Search (Note: archived messages date from 12-21-1999 to the present; it will take some time before all the archived messages dating to Sept. 15, 1993 to be loaded. However, it is questionable that these older messages, prior to 12-21-1999 will be searchable in the same way later ones are. I'll keep you posted as the loading of NCSLA older archives progresses.)

7. When you are finished reading, composing, and/or searching messages, you can logout by selecting the "Home" button at the bottom of the screen. Then you can exit your browser.

If you have any questions or comments about this list, please share them with the NCSLA list manager, Barbara Semonche. She can be reached at the contacts listed below.



Barbara P. Semonche, Library Dir. email: semonch@metalab.unc.edu
UNC-CH School of Journalism and Mass Communication Phone: (919) 843-8300
Carroll Hall, CB# 3365 FAX: (919) 962-0620
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3365 USA Semonche's web site:
http://metalab.unc.edu/journalism/welcome.html