Messages to a list are sent to the list address (e.g., listname@lists.drexel.edu), not to ListServ itself.

To send a message to a list, fill out the message fields and body as you would a normal email message. After sending the message, immediately check your email inbox. By default, ListServ will ask you to confirm the message you just sent to your list. You can either click the link to confirm the message, or confirm using the "OK" mechanism.

After confirmation, the message will be distributed to the list according to the list's "prime" setting. Prime indicates when the message can be distributed. ListServ can either distribute messages immediately, or hold messages until after prime business hours. Most lists will distribute messages immediately during prime business hours by default, but larger lists with several thousand recipients might not distribute messages until that evening.

Additionally, there are four types of lists with different sending (or "posting") permissions:

• Announcement
• Private Moderated Discussion
• Private Unmoderated Discussion
• Public Discussion

Announcement Lists

Messages can only be posted to the list by the owner(s), editor(s), or authorized senders.

These types of lists mirror the lists IT uses for broadcast emails, except that these lists often have much smaller populations and are customized for individual use. They offer the most control over posting and management restrictions.

Private Moderated Discussion Lists

The subscribers, owners, and editors can send messages to the list from their exact email addresses associated with the list.

The message, if it comes from a subscriber, will be sent to the editor and/or moderators for confirmation. Editors/moderators can either edit the message and resend it to ListServ, or confirm/reject the message as is, depending on the list's configuration. These lists offer the greatest posting control of any discussion list.

Private Unmoderated Discussion Lists

Only subscribers and owners can post messages to the list; since there is no moderation and thus no editors, each sender will have to confirm his/her own messages.

These messages will go directly to the list after confirmation. These lists remove the necessity for moderation, an extra step some might prefer to do without, but restricts posting to only individuals who are associated with the list.

Public Discussion Lists

Anyone can post messages to the list.

Public Discussion lists can be moderated or unmoderated, but the sender does not need to be an owner or subscriber to the list. These lists are the most vulnerable to attacks from spammers, but offer the most freedom in terms of discussion.