NASIGNET: Announcement & Introduction

For the past several months, the Electronic Communications
Committee of the North American Serials Interest Group (NASIG),
has been investigating and planning ways in which to construct a
comprehensive electronic organizational community for its
membership.

We are pleased to announce that we are about to begin the first
phase of implementation of our networked services, also known as
NASIGNET, with a LISTSERV application (NASIG-L) which has been
set up to serve as an electronic discussion forum for NASIG
members.  At this point in time, approximately half of the NASIG
membership (435 of a total 872 members) have electronic addresses
and have been manually added to the listserver.  Electronic addresses
are based on Internet or Bitnet e-addresses that were supplied in the
Electronic Communication Committee's survey form, which was sent
out to the membership last fall.  Within the next few weeks, members
who filled out survey forms and were added to the listserver, will
receive the following welcome message:

                            NASIGNET

Welcome to NASIGNET, the electronic communications forum of the
North American Serials Interest Group, Inc.

The NASIG Electronic Communications Network is dedicated to
serving as an outlet for matters, concerns, and issues that are
related to the organization and its membership.  Participation in
NASIGNET is limited to members of NASIG.

Our premiere entry to the networks offers a discussion forum /
bulletin board (or "talking outlet") for members of the
organization.  Appropriate topics for discussion include:
announcements, news, meetings, reports, publications, and issues
of concern to members that may affect actions of an
organizational nature.  The intent of the NASIG discussion forum
is organizational issues.  It does not deal with serials content,
or general discussions about serials processing.  Persons wishing
to participate in a serials content forum and/or to address
matters of general serials interest are referred to the SERIALST
forum (mail to: SERIALST@UVMVM or SERIALST@UVMVM.UVM.EDU for more
information).

Eventually, as we settle into our node on the net, we hope to be
able to provide the membership with a comprehensive
organizational community in which to transact business.  Future
plans include: individual listservers for each of NASIG's
standing committees, as well as such items as a searchable online
membership directory, and various publications that might include:
Constitution and Bylaws, Newsletter, Conference Program -- and
perhaps, someday, full texts of the Proceedings.  Watch the NASIG
Bulletin Board for progress reports and announcements!

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Because NASIGNET is dedicated to serving as an outlet for
matters, concerns, and issues that are related to the
organization and its membership, we repeat that NASIGNET
participation will be limited to members of NASIG.

NASIG members who do not subsequently (within the next month)
begin receiving messages through the NASIG listserver, but wish
to participate in NASIGNET should send subscription requests
(your name, institutional affiliation, and e-mail address) to:
the NASIGNET E-Address Coordinator:
                 Ann Ercelawn, Serials Librarian
                 Heard Library, Vanderbilt University
                 419 21st Avenue S
                 Nashville, TN 37240-0007
                 Phone:   615-322-2409
                 E-Mail:  ercelaa@vuctrvax

For more information about NASIG, its activities, or becoming a
member contact:   Ann Vidor, Head, Catalog Dept.
                  Woodruff Library, Emory University
                  Atlanta, GA  30329-2870
                  Phone:   404-727-6833
                  E-Mail:  libabv@emuvm1