How to Subscribe or Unsubscribe from ListServ


How do I access LISTSERV?

  1. Visit the LISTSERV web interface.
  2. Click the link for Subscriber’s Corner to access lists to which you are currently subscribed, modify subscriber options, or to subscribe to new lists or unsubscribe from currently subscribed lists.
  3. If you are not already logged in, click the log in link on the Subscriber’s Corner page and log in with your netID and password.

LISTSERV users with non-Princeton email addresses can access the LISTSERV web interface by registering for a LISTSERV password using their external email address.

What is better to use when signing up for a listserv: netID@princeton.edu or Princeton email alias?

If a user has a Princeton email alias, then using it for LISTSERV is not simply "better"; it is necessary.  When a user sends an email to the list it appears to come from the alias and would only be accepted by LISTSERV if LISTSERV believes that the alias is a subscriber to the list.

How do I see which lists I am subscribed to?

  1. Click the link for Subscriber's Corner. On the My Lists tab, you will see a complete listing of all of the LISTSERV lists to which you are currently subscribed. If you wish to see a list of settings for your subscribed lists, click on the My Settings tab.
  2. To output your list information, click on Report Format and select CSV Format (All). Enter your Search Options, and click Search. Choose to Open or Save the file.

How do I post a message to a LISTSERV list?

Your ability to post messages to the list depends on how a particular list is had been configured by the owner. Contact the List Owner for further information.

There are two ways to post a message to a LISTSERV list.

  1. Use your email application (such as Outlook or Gmail) to send a message to the LISTSERV list address (for example: listname@princeton.edu), or
  2. Use the LISTSERV web interface:

    1. From Subscriber's Corner, on the My Lists tab, click on the List Name you want to post to.
    2. From the Home Page, click on Post New Message to access the Send Message page for the list.
    3. Compose your message and click Send Message.

For more information on sending messages from the LISTSERV web interface, click the question mark icon in the upper right corner of the Send Message page.

How do I Subscribe to a LISTSERV List?

There are two ways to subscribe to a LISTSERV list: by logging into the Subscriber’s Corner in the LISTSERV web interface, or via email commands. Your request to subscribe may be forwarded to the list's owner if it is a private list, or you may be automatically subscribed if it is a public list.

Subscribe using Subscriber’s Corner

  1. Click on the Subscriber's Corner link in the LISTSERV web interface
  2. Click on Email Lists on the LISTSERV toolbar. The LISTSERV Archives page displays a listing of all lists on the Princeton LISTSERV that have been configured to be publicly archived.

Please note that you will be subscribed with the email address you used to log into the LISTSERV interface.

Please refer to Working with Mailing Lists for more information about subscribing to one or more lists.

Subscribe via email commands

  1. Send an email to listserv@princeton.edu from the email address you want subscribed to the list.
  2. In the body of the email, include the following command - SUB listname Full Name.
    • Replace listname with the exact name of the list you wish to subscribe to (do not include @princeton.edu).
    • Replace Full Name with your first and last name or leave it blank - name is optional.
  3. The subject line and the rest of the body should be blank (do not include a signature or any other extraneous information.)
  4. Send the email. You should receive a response from LISTSERV.
    • Alternately, you can send an email to listname-request@princeton.edu (replace listname with the exact name of the list) and put your request to be added to the list in the body of the email.
    • This method will send your request to the list Owner(s). The Owners can then choose to respond to your request.

How do I Unsubscribe from a LISTSERV list?

There are two ways to unsubscribe from a LISTSERV List: by logging into the Subscriber’s Corner in the LISTSERV web interface, or via email commands.

Note that if you are subscribed to a list using your @princeton.edu email address AND if you are no longer actively affiliated with the University and your email account is no longer enabled, you will need to contact listhelp@princeton.edu or listname-request@princeton.edu (replace listname with the exact name of the list) to unsubscribe from a list.

Unsubscribe using Subscriber’s Corner

  1. Click on the Subscriber's Corner link in the LISTSERV web interface
  2. On the My Lists tab you will see a complete listing of all of the LISTSERV lists to which you are currently subscribed.
  3. Click on the Settings link next to the List Name.
  4. At the bottom of the page, click on the Unsubscribe (listname) button. You will be immediately removed from the list.

Please refer to Working with Mailing Lists for more information about unsubscribing to one or more lists.

Unsubscribe via email commands

  1. Compose a new email message to listserv@princeton.edu. You must send it from the email account that is subscribed to the LISTSERV List.
  2. Leave the subject line blank.
  3. In the message body enter UNSUBSCRIBE listname (replace listname with the exact name of the list). Include only the list name, not the LISTSERV email address.

Canvas and Blackboard class Listserv List deletion dates

These are the deletion dates for Canvas and Blackboard mailing lists.  Note it is NOT possible to be unsubscribed from these lists.  These lists get automatically populated on an hourly basis:

Spring class lists: 4th Monday of the following January.
Major lists: 4th Monday of the following January.
Fall class lists: 4th Monday of the following May.
The Service Desk should not delete these lists. If anyone should request the deletion of a Blackboard list, let them know that it will be deleted automatically at the above mentioned dates. If they press the issue then open a ticket for Blackboard.

 

How do I change my subscription options?

  1. Click on the Subscriber's Corner link in the LISTSERV web interface
  2. On the My Lists tab, you will see a complete listing of all of the LISTSERV lists to which you are currently subscribed.
  3. Click Settings next to the List Name you want to change. You will be able to change the following options:
    • Subscription Type
    • Mail Header Style
    • Acknowledgements
    • Miscellaneous
      Note: For more information about each option, click the question mark next to the option.
  4. Make your changes and click Update Options.

For a comprehensive reference on all LISTSERV option settings (including how to set options by mail), please refer to Changing Subscription Options for a Specific List.

How do I access the email archives for a list for which I am a subscriber?

The list archive consists of all of the notebook logs for a list. To access the archives,

  1. Log in to the Subscriber's Corner in the LISTSERV web interface
  2. On the My Lists tab you will see a complete listing of all of the LISTSERV lists to which you are currently subscribed.
  3. Click the List Name of the list archive you want to review.
  4. On the Home Page, you can view Latest Messages.
    • Click the date of the archive you wish to view, or
    • Click Search Archives to search for a specific archive

How do I access the RSS feed for a list?

Follow the instructions above to access the archives, and then click the button at the bottom of the list Home Page corresponding to the type of RSS feed you want.

For more information about RSS, please refer to RSS Feeds: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Where I can find documentation about LISTSERV?

Please refer to the L-Soft LISTSERV 16.0 List Subscriber Manual