What are mailing lists?

Mailing lists are an email communication tool used to facilitate discussions and make announcements to a group of subscribers. Administrators can send emails to everyone subscribed to the list without entering each email address individually, and users can usually sign up for a mailing list by filling out a web form or sending an email to a registration address.

Mailing lists were very popular in the early 2000s and were often used by groups of people with shared interests to discuss and share information. For example, ibiblio powered mailing lists for people living in New Mexico who were interested in equestrian trails, people enthusiastic about rare tropical fruit, and those wanting to learn about Biblical Hebrew. At present, mailing lists are more common among businesses, organizations, and universities who need to make frequent mass announcements.

How do mailing lists work?

ibiblio uses GNU Mailman to manage mailing lists at lists.ibiblio.org. GNU Mailman is a free software built with Python that manages email lists and discussions. It also supports features such as topic filtering, multi-lingual support, and spam filters.

On lists.ibiblio.org, users can create and remove subscriptions and browse every list powered by ibiblio. Although many lists are no longer active, you can browse specific list archives to get an idea of what being on a mailing list would have been like.

Members receive announcements from the list administrator, but also have the option to send their own message to all subscribers. Usually, this is done by sending your message to (name of list) @lists.ibiblio.org.

What is Python?

Python is a popular programming language that can be used for software development, data analysis, business management, web development, and more (Code Academy). It is a recommended language for beginners to learn since it is fairly straightforward and widely used. ibiblio hosts a few guides to Python that are great resources for all levels of programmers. If you don’t already have Python installed, you can download it here.

A Byte of Python

A Byte of Python is an online textbook for everyone from beginners to experienced programmers. It starts with a general introduction plus installation instructions and covers basics, operators and expressions, functions, data structures, exception handling, and more. There is also a long list of examples for each unit.

Python for Fun

Best suited for intermediate programmers, Python for Fun provides instructions for many types of projects such as text processing, chance and probability, computer hardware simulation, and even games like Sudoku! Each walk-through comes with helpful comments and a downloadable zip file that contain all the components of the project.

Python Bibliotheca

This is a library of educational materials for learning Python. It contains links to textbooks, programming tips, and many practice problems, making it a great resource for teachers and students.

Other Tutorials

If you’re interested in learning more about Python, other resources include the Python getting started website, W3 Schools, and Code Academy. Happy coding!

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. Many schools prioritize these fields since they teach valuable skills such as decision making, problem solving, and information literacy (U.S. Department of Education). STEM education classes also prepare students for a constantly changing world and give them opportunities for post-graduation careers.

Here is a list of a few sites hosted by ibiblio that are a great introduction to a range of STEM topics. To explore more, you can check out tags under natural science and mathematics and technology and applied sciences!

The Virtual Cell

The Virtual Cell provides an interactive cell biology learning experience that is both entertaining and educational. You can also access a very helpful pronunciation guide to hear the parts of the cell out loud.

3D Solid State Crystal Models

If you’re interested in physics and math, check out this site that provides interactive 3D models of crystals with cubic symmetry. While the science is complicated, the models are very fun to explore even as a beginner! It’s a great introduction to crystallography and virtual reality modeling.

The Celestia Motherlode

Here you’ll find a repository of add-ons for Celestia, a 3D space simulator. You can browse images of planets, spacecraft, and read through educational guides as well as access resources for students and teachers.

NASA’s Educational Media Archive

Nasa.ibiblio.org was a collection of scientific resources for all age groups to learn about subjects such as aeronautics, mathematics, technology, and space transportation. This site included educational videos, web activities, and guides specifically for teachers and students. To access the archive, follow the instructions in this post!

TechniCalc

TechniCalc is a site for teaching students, engineers, and academics how to use their handheld calculators. It contains resources for popular TI models and covers functions, programs, and even games.