THE PURPOSE OF STUMPERS
 
STUMPERS is a networking resource for reference questions that
have people, in essence, stumped.  After failing to find a
satisfactory answer to your query in the usual library reference
sources, turn to the people on STUMPERS.  You could get an
answer and, possibly, learn about a new reference source.
 
STUMPERS has a moderator who performs maintenance duties to its
electronic message waves and who helps to keep the list focussed 
on reference queries and answers.  Beyond that, STUMPERS is a
self-monitored list for the people by the people.  It is the 
subscribers who make STUMPERS run.
 
 
THE TECHNOLOGY INVOLVED
 
STUMPERS is an e-mail based electronic conference that operates
across computer networks all over the world.  It is a mailing
list rather than a bulletin board in that MAILSERV's function, as
far as STUMPERS is concerned, is to forward electronic
correspondence to subscribers.
 
 
THE QUIRKS OF STUMPERS
 
There are two things that are unusual about STUMPERS when
compared to other electronic mailing lists:
 
 A)  STUMPERS uses software called MAILSERV to forward e-mail
     to participants.  It does NOT use LISTSERV.
 
     LISTSERV commands will NOT work on STUMPERS, so please pay
     close attention to the "Procedures and Protocol" part of
     this document.  It should save you alot of time and grief.
 
 B)  Most electronic mailing lists are named "<whatever>-L" and
     use that "-L" in the list mailing address; not STUMPERS. 
     STUMPERS' e-mail address uses "-LIST".
 
     Thus, the address to send e-mail to the entire list is:
 
                   STUMPERS-LIST@CRF.CUIS.EDU
                            ^^^^
 
     A message sent to the address STUMPERS-L@CRF.CUIS.EDU will
     NOT get out to the list.              ^^
 
 
STUMPERS PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOL 
 
1)  Posting Questions:
 
     Questions should go directly to the list.  The address for
     sending questions to the list is:
 
                   STUMPERS-LIST@CRF.CUIS.EDU
                            ^^^^
     While it might be nice to know which sources have already
     been searched to no avail on your query, it is not required
     that these are listed as two people can find very different
     things in the same source.       
 
     Please remember to use the SUBJ: line in your message.  It
     is a courteous alert for people at the receiving end as to
     what the message is about.  If there is no SUBJ: line, often
     your message will simply be deleted by too-busy people who
     might otherwise have been able to give you an answer if you
     had just taken the time to alert them to the message's
     content with a SUBJ: line.
 
2)  Posting Answers:
 
     Answers should also go directly to the list so that all can
     see the answer.  Please cite the source of your answer
     whenever possible, even if the source is "general knowledge"
     or "my Uncle Henry."  The address for sending answers to the
     list is:
                   STUMPERS-LIST@CRF.CUIS.EDU
                            ^^^^
     Everyone on the list has seen the question.  Everyone on the
     list would like to see the answer -- especially the source
     of the answer.  Being a list of mostly reference librarians,
     the source of the answer is what we really want to learn. 
     It's the purpose of STUMPERS.  (The SUBJ: line comes in
     handy for those people with no interest in a particular
     subject.  In those cases, the DELete key can be used.)
 
     In cases where the questioner asks that an answer be sent
     directly to a personal e-mail account, please COPY the list
     with your answer by putting the list address in your
     message's CC: line, or by stacking the list address after
     the questioner's personal e-mail address.
 
     Again, please remember to use the SUBJ: line in your
     message.  It is a courteous alert for people at the
     receiving end as to what the message is about.  If there is
     no SUBJ: line, often your message will simply be deleted by
     too-busy people who might otherwise have been able to give
     you an answer if you had just taken the time to alert them
     to the message's content with a SUBJ: line.
 
3)  Unsubscribing:
 
     If you want to be removed from STUMPERS, do NOT send your
     request to the list.  No one on the list can help you
     unsubscribe.  The list does not need to be filled up with
     unsubscribe messages.  Send your unsubscribe message to
     MAILSERV, and if MAILSERV fails you, then send a message to
     the moderator.  (Directions for both procedures follow
     below.)
 
     MAILSERV is the first choice for unsubscribing because
     MAILSERV is available 24 hours, while the moderator is
     around approximately once every 24 hours.
 
     a)  Unsubscribing Through MAILSERV:
 
     If you want to be removed from STUMPERS, do NOT send your
     request to the list.  Send the message "UNSUBSCRIBE
     STUMPERS <the-e-mail-address-you-subscribed-with>" to the
     following address:
 
                      MAILSERV@CRF.CUIS.EDU
 
     Please remember to use the exact e-mail address that you had
     used to subscribe to STUMPERS.  As elementary as this may
     sound, many people subscribe to the list under one address
     and then down the road change e-mail addresses.  When it
     comes time to unsubscribe, their e-mail address on our list
     does not match their working e-mail address and much
     frustration ensues.
 
     b)  Unsubscribing Through The Moderator:
 
     It is NOT unusual that you might have a problem with
     MAILSERV unsubscribing you.  E-mail addresses have to match
     up exactly and they often do not.  If you are having
     difficulty unsubscribing through MAILSERV, then BY ALL MEANS
     send an e-mail message, asking to unsubscribe you, to the
     moderator at:
 
                    ROSLIBREFRC@CRF.CUIS.EDU
 
     It is perfectly acceptable and even expected that you do so.
 
4)  Subscribing:
 
     If you want to subscribe (or resubscribe) to STUMPERS, do
     NOT send your request to the list.  No one on the list can
     help you subscribe.  The list does not need to be filled up
     with subscribe messages.  Send your subscribe message to
     MAILSERV, and if MAILSERV fails you, then send a message to
     the moderator.  (Directions for both procedures follow
     below.)
 
     MAILSERV is the first choice for subscribing because
     MAILSERV is available 24 hours, while the moderator is
     around approximately once every 24 hours.
 
     a)  Subscribing Through MAILSERV:
 
     Send the message "SUBSCRIBE STUMPERS <your-e-mail-address>"
     to the following address:
 
                        MAILSERV@CRF.CUIS.EDU
 
     Please remember the exact e-mail address you use when you
     subscribe to STUMPERS.  As elementary as this may sound,
     many people subscribe to the list under one address and then
     down the road change e-mail addresses.  When it comes time
     to unsubscribe, their e-mail address on our list does not
     match their working e-mail address and much frustration
     ensues.
 
     b)  Subscribing Through The Moderator:
 
     If you are having difficulty subscribing through MAILSERV,
     then BY ALL MEANS send an e-mail message, asking to
     subscribe you, to the moderator at:
 
                    ROSLIBREFRC@CRF.CUIS.EDU
 
     It is perfectly acceptable and even expected that you do so.
 
5)  Suspending STUMPERS mail:
 
     STUMPERS runs on MAILSERV.  MAILSERV does NOT support
     automatic mail-suspension or resubscribe functions on
     STUMPERS.  If you are going to be away from your computer
     account for a period of time and you don't want your disk
     quota eaten up by mail messages, then you must UNSUBSCRIBE
     from the list before your departure and then SUBSCRIBE to
     the list upon your return.  The message "set stumpers no
     mail" will NOT work because that is a LISTSERV command and
     STUMPERS does not run on LISTSERV.  It runs on MAILSERV.
 
     Again, "set stumpers no mail" is NOT a function supported
     by MAILSERV on STUMPERS.
 
6)   Archives:
 
     STUMPERS has searchable archives.  The STUMPERS archives can
     be accessed through our gopher server.  From your terminal,
     simply type GOPHER CRF.CUIS.EDU 
 
     At the Root Gopher Server menu, select the following:
          8. LIBRARY RESOURCES/
 
     At the Library Resources menu, select the following:
          6. STUMPERS REFERENCE QUESTIONS ARCHIVE/
 
     Everything you need to know about searching the STUMPERS
     archives is in the option ABOUT THE STUMPERS ARCHVIES.  To
     read this option, select the following:
          1. ABOUT THE STUMPERS ARCHIVES
 
7)   Notes:
 
     STUMPERS does not support DIGESTS because DIGESTS is a
     LISTSERV function and STUMPERS runs on MAILSERV.  Also, it
     is not possible for anyone to determine that you are signed
     up to the list through the use of the REVIEW command.  We at
     STUMPERS do not believe in revealing the names of people on
     our list.
 
8)  Hitchhiking
 
     "Hitchhiking," not subscribing to the list but merely
     posting an isolated query and then having the answers sent
     directly to one's personal e-mail address, is not really
     encouraged on STUMPERS.  This list is a collaborative
     effort and hitchhiking only undermines that effort by
     circumventing the list.  Everyone on the list sees the
     query, therefore, everyone should see the answer and learn
     not only from the answer but, also, its source.
 
     In cases where the questioner asks that an answer be sent
     directly to a personal e-mail account, please COPY the list
     with your answer by putting the list address in your
     message's CC: line, or by stacking the list address after
     the questioner's personal e-mail address.
 
9)  Finally...
 
     This list is ultimately YOUR list.  Please feel free to send
     any questions, problems, ideas, comments, feedback, or
     advice that you might have about STUMPERS to the
     moderator.  That is part of the moderator's job.  The
     address for sending e-mail specifically and only for the
     moderator of STUMPERS is:
 
                        ROSLIBREFRC@CRF.CUIS.EDU
 
     Mail sent to ROSLIBREFRC@CRF.CUIS.EDU will NOT go out to the
     whole distribution list.  It will be delivered ONLY to the
     moderator of STUMPERS.
 
 
SUBJ: LINE FLAGS
 
The users of STUMPERS have initiated a system of flags to be used
at the beginning of a message's SUBJ: line to classify the
content of a message.  Please note that the use of this system is
strictly voluntary.
 
If you would like to use these flags, the style guide is thus:
 
     ?  =  A STUMPERS question.
           (ex:  SUBJ: ? Groucho Marx Quote)
 
     !  =  An answer to a STUMPERS question.
           (ex:  SUBJ: ! Groucho Marx Quote)
 
     %  =  A half-baked answer to a STUMPERS question.
           (ex:  SUBJ: % Possible Groucho Marx Quote)
 
     *  =  A thank-you message or a follow-up comment that is not
           a STUMPERS question or an answer to a STUMPERS question.
           (ex:  SUBJ: * Thanks for help on Groucho Marx Quote)
 
Again, this procedure is strictly voluntary.  If you can remember
the codes and you find that they are helpful, then by all means
use them.
 
 
HUMANS OF STUMPERS
 
STUMPERS was created in 1992 by Anne Feeney, a student of
Rosary College's Graduate School of Library and Information
Science.  Since Ms. Feeney's graduation from Rosary, STUMPERS
continues to be moderated by a Rosary College GSLIS student.  
Currently, I am the moderator.  If I can be of any assistance,
please don't hesitate to send a message to me.
 
PRINT OUT and save this document for reference (no pun intended).
 
 
Very truly yours,

FREDERICK FRIEDMAN-ROMMELL                 GSLIS, Rosary College
Moderator of STUMPERS                      7900 W. Division Street
Internet:  ROSLIBREFRC@CRF.CUIS.EDU        River Forest, IL  60305  USA

-- 
   ----------------------------------
Knowledge may be power, but communications is the key
  -dannyb@panix.com (or dburstein@mcimail.com)


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