Commercial Announcements

[Mike Eisenberg <mike@eryx.syr.edu>]

To commerical vendors subscribing to LM_NET:

We have recently had a number of commerical postings to LM_NET.  These
range from short announcements of user meetings at conferences to more
direct promotional messages.

LM_NET already suffers from information overload.  It is not appropriate
to post _any_ message promoting a particular product.  A _short_ message
announcing a user meeting seems appropriate.  Please send any such
messages to Peter (pmilbury@ericir.syr.edu) or Mike (mike@ericir.syr.edu)
for reposting.  Peter or Mike may edit the  announcements if necessary.

Here's what the LM_NET Netiquette says about this topic:

==================================================================

15. Producers should feel free to engage in general theoretical
    discussions about the list topic, but should refrain
    from turning their replies into commercials for their own
    products.
      Commercial messages are absolutely _not_ allowed unless
    approved by the list owners.  Any persons posting commercial
    messages will be dropped from the list immediately.

==================================================================

We are trying to be fair about this. We are, for example, considering
alternatives that provide outlets for commerical announcements (e.g., a
separate LM-ANNOUNCE list just for commerical announcements or a weekly
compiled commercial message).  In addition, the AskERIC Virtual Library
now has a section for commercial announcements related to education and
libraries (for more information, email to Nancy Morgan, AskERIC
Coordinator at nmorgan@ericir.syr.edu).

I can assure you that LM_NET members will react much more favorably to
vendors and products if we work together on this rather than continuing to
have commercial or quasi-commerical announcements slip on to LM_NET.

And, of course, library media professionals on LM_NET are always
encouraged to share information and raise questions about resources,
services, and products that they use.

Thank you for your assistance on this serious matter.


Mike and Peter