WebJunction

WebJunction hosts a set of library listserv discussions known collectively as the SunSITE Communities. Previously hosted by UC Berkeley on their sunsite web server, these online discussions have had years of active participation.

You may subscribe to each of these lists separately if you want to receive regular email digests of current activity. Find instructions at each site.

You may also read the archives with or without being a subscriber. Browsing through posts by month and year is a common feature on the list sites. Not all of them offer keyword searching. For those lists that don't have a search capability, there is a trick to use Google to do the searching.

For example, if you want to search for posts on PubLib about the future of libraries:

• Go to www.Google.com.
• Enter your search terms in the search box followed by publib site:lists.webjunction.org
• Search terms: future libraries publib site:lists.webjunction.org
• Sample results page

These email lists are administered by volunteers whose dedication to the online exchange of information requires hours of commitment. It is respectful to adhere to the guidelines and subscription policies specified on each site.

CurrentCites
A team of librarians and library staff monitors information technology literature in both print and digital forms, each month selecting only the best items to annotate for this free publication. The resulting issue of 8-12 annotated citations of current literature is emailed to a mailing list and is redistributed on other electronic fora.

LibWeb
As an index of libraries from all around the world, LibWeb lists over 7200 websites of libraries in over 125 countries. US libraries are subdivided into academic, public, national libraries and library organizations, state libraries, regional consortia, and special and school libraries. In addition to links to libraries in every region of the globe, there is a list of library-related companies and links to other library directories and indexes.

PubLib
Founded in December, 1992, the PubLib discussion list is a lively online presence, generating 350-400 messages per month. It is specifically oriented toward issues relating to public librarianship. PubLib subscribers include librarians, library workers, library trustees, friends of libraries, library students and faculty, library journalists, and advocates of librarianship.

Web4Lib
The Web4Lib electronic discussion deals with issues relating to the creation, management, and support of library-based World-Wide Web servers, services, and applications. It is specifically aimed toward librarians and library staff involved in World-Wide Web management, an increasingly critical component of 21st century library services.

XML4Lib
This listserv is for the discussion of the Extensible Markup Language (XML) and its use in, by, and for libraries and library users. XML is part of the international effort to apply knowledge organization standards to the realm of digital resources. The discussion is specific to librarians and library staff.

ILL-L
This listserv is for anyone with a professional interest in interlibrary loan, document delivery and resource sharing. Archives are available from December 2003 onward.