ARSL E-List

The ARSL e-list is a dynamic resource for ARSL members to provide resources, solve problems, and share success stories with other rural and small library professionals and advocates across the United States and internationally. If you have trouble accessing the e-list or have any questions, please contact [email protected].

Accessing E-List Subscription Preferences

All new ARSL member accounts need to be manually subscribed to the e-list to begin sending and receiving messages. To modify your e-list subscription settings, follow these steps:

  1. Log in to your member account on ARSL.org.
  2. Click on 'Member Profile' in the top navigation menu.
  3. Click on the 'My Profile' link beneath your welcome banner image.
  4. Hover over the 'My Features' tab in the grey navigation menu.
  5. Select 'E-Lists' from the dropdown.
  6. Click on the toggle buttons next to the E-List you would like modify.

To receive e-list messages in your email inbox both the 'Subscription' and 'Delivery' toggle buttons must be turned on (showing green). If only the Subscription button is turned on you will be able to read e-list messages within your ARSL member profile, but they will not deliver to your email inbox.

Filtering Email

If you are interested in filtering e-list emails into a separate folder in your inbox, see instructions below:

E-LIst Archive

To view an archive of all messages sent to the new ARSL e-list during your active membership, follow these steps:

  1. Log in to your member account on ARSL.org.
  2. Click on 'Member Profile' in the top navigation menu.
  3. Click on the 'My Profile' link beneath your welcome banner image.
  4. Hover over the 'My Features' tab in the grey navigation menu.
  5. Select 'E-Lists' from the dropdown.
  6. Click on the appropriate E-List to view all archived messages.
  7. To search for specific topics within the message archive, use the Search Messages search bar in the upper right corner of the Messages tab.

If you are interested in retrieving specific messages from the pre-2020 ARSL e-list archive please email [email protected].

User Guidelines for Messages

• To participate in the e-list, send your message to [email protected]. Messages must be sent from the email address associated with your ARSL membership.

• This e-list is made available to our members as a professional tool. Therefore, messages should be of interest to a large segment of ARSL members. Topics that are of limited interest or otherwise irrelevant to the professional nature of the e-list should be discussed off-list and through individual conversations.

• Before you reply to a post on the e-list, please consider if your response should be directed to the sender or to the entire e-list. To respond to the sender only, simply click reply on the email. To reply to the full e-list, click reply and then replace the To field with [email protected]. 

• Original posters are encouraged to compile and post a summary of responses when their topic generates a lot of interest.

• Indicate the message’s content in the subject line of your email. Avoid using generic subject lines such as “Need Info.” When responding to a post, check the subject line to make sure it still reflects the topic and enter a new subject if needed. Do not piggyback on someone else’s message if you are discussing something completely different. 

• Adding a signature block including name, organization, and contact information is highly encouraged.

• Lively discussion and debate about professional matters are welcomed on the e-list. The tone of messages should be respectful and professional, focusing on the topic at hand. Bullying or demeaning comments will not be tolerated.

• Users are expected to follow common netiquette when posting to the e-list. For example: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etiquette_in_technology#Netiquette

• Members participating in research or studies are welcome to post survey requests. Please include the expected time it will take to complete the survey and when appropriate, share the final results back to the e-list.

• Messages may be forwarded from other lists if relevant to ARSL members. Please remove extraneous lines, but leave enough information to identify the original source.

• Announcements of job openings relevant to library professionals are welcome.

• The e-list does not accept ads from outside publishers, vendors, or commercial entities. However, questions and discussion initiated by ARSL members about products or services are appropriate, as this provides a forum for members recommendations and assistance.

• To address questions or concerns with the e-list, contact [email protected].