Mailing lists and the other forms of discussion groups are really about collaboration - people working together over the Net. Topica and Yahoo Groups make it easy to start a group or launch a newsletter.

To see the types and possibly to find some that match your interests, search the collection by subject and look for groups that have a large number of members.

Oh yes - there is a drawback - messages come with advertisements.

Topica (www.topica.com)

Topica is a management console for mailing lists. It has a directory to lists (see Topica's Full Directory) and searching capabilities.

Become a member (for free) and you will be able to subscribe to a list just by clicking a subscribe button within the list's information page. Many of the lists offer a web-based discussion - no need for e-mail. When you join the list you will be asked how you want to receive the messages.

For people intending to create an elist, it has the full range of list management functions - look into the Start an Email List or Discussion section to learn how easy it is to set up your own mailing list.

Yahoo! Groups (groups.yahoo.com)

Yahoo! Groups is a mailing list service turned web conference. Yahoo Groups has thousands of international discussion groups that may be private or public and can be received either by e-mail or read on the web. What defines Yahoo Groups as a Web Community is a group's ability to have viewable message archives, activity logs, chat rooms, shared calendar, polls, and 20 MB of Web space for sharing photos, MP3 and other files. The service is used by clubs, small businesses, school classes - any group with a common interest. You too can set up a Yahoo! Group.

Explore the possibilities by browsing the subject directory or searching on a keyword. You'll quickly see the number of members a group has and whether it is public or members only. Clicking on the name will take you to the group's main page, and if it's a public group you will have access to the messages. Do a search on library to get a list of over two thousand Yahoo! Groups in some way concerned with libraries.

We will be exploring Yahoo! Groups in more detail as part of Web Conferences.

MSN (groups.msn.com)

New to WSG Apr 2003

MSN has groups too with hundreds of little communities set up for Automotive, Business, Health, Money, Science, Travel and the like. Many of these can be browsed and will accept new members if you wish to post. To join though you will need a .NET Passport - though you may have one already if you are using Microsoft's Instant Messenger. You'll also need a high tolerance for advertisements (true at Yahoo too) and popups.

.Net Passport members can also set up a new group. MSN Groups goes the full mile by providing the tools and space to create a web site with message boards, photo albums, calendars, chat, member profiles, and group / community e-mail. Each user gets 30 megabytes of space in total.

Exercise at Yahoo Groups

You love mysteries and would like to follow a discussion group that reviews new books.

1. Go to Yahoo! Groups and browse the Entertainment & Arts / Books and Writing / Genres section or do a search for mystery books.

2. There are several Public groups where you can browse the posted messages immediately. Those marked For Members means you must join the group to read and send.

Where to next?

Double-check your knowledge of getting involved in mailing lists with this quiz.