Discussion List Help

The National Institute for Literacy discussion lists use Mailman mailing list server. All subscription settings can be manipulated via a web interface.

How do I subscribe to a list?

1. Go to the discussion list's information page (links below) and fill out the form. You may choose a password here, or have one assigned automatically. After hitting the "Subscribe" button you will then receive a verification email in the mail, follow the link in the email (or copy and paste the link in your address bar if it wraps in your email) click on the "Subscribe" button on the confirmation page and you will officially be subscribed.
   List settings pages:
   Adult Literacy Professional Development
   Assessment
   Adult English Language Learners
   Family Literacy
   Focus on Basics
   Health & Literacy
   Learning Disabilities
   Diversity & Literacy
   Technology & Literacy
   Workplace Literacy
   You are not subscribed until you follow the link to the confirmation page and click the "Subscribe" button. Once you have subscribed you will receive a welcome email from the list.

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2. Go to the list subscription page and choose a list or more than one list. You will receive a verification email for each list you choose on the form, follow the link in the email (or copy and paste the link in your address bar if it wraps in your email) click on the "Subscribe" button on the confirmation page and you will officially be subscribed. Be sure to save your password for future reference.
   You are not subscribed until you follow the link to the confirmation page and click the "Subscribe" button. Once you have subscribed you will receive a welcome email from the list.

How do I unsubscribe from a list?

1. Go to the list's information page, (links above) scroll to the bottom of the page, enter your email address, then scroll again and click the "unsubscribe" button. You will receive a confirmation email, follow the link in the email (or copy and paste the link in your address bar if it wraps in your email) and click on the "Unsubscribe" button on the confirmation page. You will receive one more email from the server with a short message that you are unsubscribed.

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2. Go to the list unsubscribe page, fill out the form with your email and list then click the unsubscribe button. You will receive a confirmation email, follow the link in the email (or copy and paste the link in your address bar if it wraps in your email) and click on the "Unsubscribe" button on the confirmation page. You will receive one more email from the server with a short message that you are unsubscribed.

How do I find out what lists I can join?

Go to the Discussion List page to see the all of the National Institute for Literacy's Discussion lists. Descriptions for each list are available on this page.

How do I send a message to the list?

Use your list's email address in the "To" box when sending an email. The preferred format for emails is "Plain Text" format. (More information about "Plain Text" format)

• assessment@nifl.gov
• englishlanguage@nifl.gov
• familyliteracy@nifl.gov
• focusonbasics@nifl.gov
• healthliteracy@nifl.gov
• learningdisabilities@nifl.gov
• professionaldevelopment@nifl.gov
• diversity@nifl.gov
• specialtopics@nifl.gov
• technology@nifl.gov
• workplace@nifl.gov

I know I subscribed to the list and used the correct list address, so why won't my emails get posted to the list?

Make sure the email address you used when you subscribed is the same email address that appears in the "from" box of your emails. To make sure, email yourself, then click the "from" box of the email you receive. This is the address the list server uses to compare with the subscriber list. If it does not match exactly, it gets rejected. Your subscription email must be the email address that appears in the "from" box (or the header) of the email. Go to How do I change my email address? to update your subscription(s).

How do I change my email address?

Go to the list's information page and enter your subscribed email address and your password on the next loaded page to go to your membership option page. You can change your email address for this list simply by entering your correct email address twice. Click the "Change Globally" option before clicking the submit button to change the email address on all of your lists.

How do I respond to only one list subscriber?

By default we set the "Reply to" button to reply to everyone on the list. If you wish to respond to only one subscriber, please make sure to replace the list address with the subscriber's address before hitting the send button.

How do I view and search archived messages?

All messages released to any of the discussion lists are archived on Web pages that are available to the general public. Access a specific list's archives by clicking on any of the list archive links available from each list's home page or find links for all of the discussion lists here and in the side navigation bar on the main discussion list pages. To search for specific topics in the Discussion List Archives, click the "Search Archives" link located in the left hand navigation bar on this and every discussion list page. You can search in all of the discussion lists or just one list.

How do I temporarily stop messages being sent without unsubscribing?

Go to your list's information page, scroll down and enter your subscribed email address and password to go to the membership option page. Scroll down until you see the header "Mail Delivery". It is set to "Enabled" by default.
To stop your mail while you are away:

1. Click the "Disabled" option
2. Click the "Set Globally" button to stop mail from ALL of your subscribed lists
3. To restart, go back to this page and click the "Enabled" option
4. Be sure to check "set globally" for all of your lists

How do I set my subscription to receive messages in digest format?

By default, you receive all messages individually. If you would like to receive all of your messages in a digest format that contains multiple posts, go to your list's settings page scroll down and enter your email address and password to go to the membership option page. Scroll down until you see the header "Set Digest Mode" and click "On". To switch back to Individual messages, switch this option to "Off".

How do I see what lists I am subscribed to?

Go to the list's information page enter your subscribed email address and your password on the next loaded page to go to your membership option page. Scroll down to the "Your other literacy.nifl.gov subscriptions" area on the page then click the button. Your lists will be displayed.

How do I retrieve my password?

Go to the list's information page and enter your email address, then scroll down and click the "Remind" button in the password reminder area. Your password will be emailed to you.

How do I change my subscription settings?

Go to the list's information page enter your subscribed email address and your password on the next loaded page to go to your membership option page. The change membership information area towards the top of the page allows you to change your email address. This is also where you can:

• Change your password
• Display your list subscriptions
• Change message and other subscription options.

How do I set one password for all of my lists?

Go to the list's information page and enter your email address, then enter your password on the next loaded page to go to your membership option page.

1. Go to the "Change Your Password" section
2. Enter your desired password, then enter it again for confirmation
3. Click the "Change Globally" option (This will change the password for all of your subscribed lists)
4. Click the "Change my password" button

Questions about the National Institute for Literacy's discussion lists and the policies governing those lists may be directed to the Institute at info@nifl.gov@nifl.gov. For questions about discussion list technical issues, please contact listhelp@nifl.gov

Last updated: Wednesday, 04-Mar-2009 09:19:18 EST