Local Government Discussion Groups and Blogs
Prepared by Carol Tobin, MRSC Planning Consultant
Electronic discussion lists, also known as listservs, E-mail lists, and discussion groups, are a powerful tool for elected officials. They provide an opportunity for a group of people who share common interests to communicate via the Internet with others who share the same interests. For example, the localgov listserv sponsored by MRSC is a good place to post general questions about hot issues facing cities and counties. A good general source for listserv information is Tilenet, which has a searchable directory of listservs along with descriptions and instructions on how to subscribe. Another interesting source for listserves is Yahoo's eGroups (http://www.egroups.com). They host a range of listservs on a variety of topics.
A blog (a contraction of the term "web log") is a type of website, usually maintained by an individual or an organization, with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries. Recently local governments have established blogs (see ) and some topical blogs have been established addressing subjects of interest to local governments.
A Few Pointers on Subscribing to Listservs
When you initially subscribe to a listserv, it's very important to type the message exactly as instructed on the list below. Leave the subject line blank and type only the required message. Do not include your signature block in the message.
Once you are subscribed to the listserv, you will generally receive a message confirming that you are subscribed and giving you instructions for posting messages, unsubscribing, and other options. The address for subscribing (and unsubscribing) is different from the address for sending messages to the list.
A good listserv thrives on participation and sharing; if you post a lot of questions, it's a good idea to share what you've learned with others on the list. With busy lists, you can sometimes receive dozens of messages a day, so be prepared.
General Local Government Listservs
This list is sponsored by MRSC and covers a broad range of local government topics. It is intended primarily for local government officials, municipal leagues and non-profit associations to share information, innovations, and inquiries. To add your name to the subscriber list, visit the Yahoo Web site and follow the instructions. There is no charge for subscribing. You may unsubscribe from the listserv at any time by returning the Yahoo Web site at the above address. Also see an archive of previous messages at the same Web address.
Econ-DEV
This list addresses the government's role in local Economic development. To subscribe to Econ-dev, send E-mail to majordomo@csn.org with the subject line blank and the following message: "subscribe Econ-dev".
GOVMANAG
Government managers at all levels discuss managerial excellence, leadership, and career development with emphasis on real world experiences and practical ideas. To subscribe, send E-mail to listserv@list.nih.gov with the subject line blank and the message: "subscribe GOVMANAG [Your Name]".
Information Systems
COMMUNET
This is a lively community and civic network discussion list with a lot of subscribers. To subscribe, send E-mail to listproc@list.uvm.edu with the subject line blank and the following message: "SUB COMMUNET [Your Name]".
LGTECH
This list addresses information technology issues in the local government environment. To subscribe, send a message to lgtech-request@mail.institute.virginia.edu:
Library
WEB4LIB
This is a very busy list intended for discussion of issues relating to the creation and management of library-based World-Wide Web servers and clients. To subscribe, send E-mail to listserv@library.berkeley.edu with the subject line blank and the message: "SUB Web4Lib [Your Name]".
WIIF
Washington Information Issues Forum, is an electronic discussion group sponsored by the Washington State Library. It started in 1994 as part of an LSCA project to bring Internet to public libraries in Washington state. It is open for all who are interested in Washington libraries. To subscribe to the list, send email to: listproc@wln.com. Your message should contain a single line of text reading: "subscribe WIIF [Your Name]"
Planning and Community Development
CD4URBAN
This list focuses on planning and development and is sponsored by the Community Development Society. See the information on the list on the Community Development Society Web page. To subscribe, send E-mail to majordomo@vicnet.net.au with the subject line blank and the message: "subscribe".
UDEPNET
Urban Development & Environmental Professionals Network is intended to be used by architects, engineers, landscape architects and environmental professionals who work in the field of urban development. To subscribe, send E-mail to: requests@n2town.com with the message: "subscribe udepnet".
Telecommunications
MUNI-CABLE
A service providing news about cable television and telecommunications regulatory and legal matters of interest to local government and public access officials. To subscribe, visit the Yahoo Web page.
TELECOM-CITIES
This list, sponsored by the Taub Urban Research Center, is dedicated to exploring the impacts of new information and communications technologies on the growth and development of cities and metropolitan regions throughout the world. To join, point your Web browser to the Mailing List Sign-up (http://www.nyu.edu/urban/ny_affairs/mail-list-signup.html) or send E-mail to listproc@lists.nyu.edu with the subject line blank and the message: "subscribe TELECOM-CITIES [email@domain Firstname Lastname]".
More Local Government Listservs
We invite you to share the wealth by suggesting your favorite local government-related listserv to add to this list. When you find a listserv that you think other local government officials in Washington would find useful and informative, be sure to share the information by e-mailing information about the listserv (list address and message for subscribing) to MRSC. If we agree that your suggested listserv fits with our local government emphasis, we will add it to this list. Send your suggestions to Carol Tobin, MRSC Planning Consultant, at mrsc@mrsc.org.