An Internet mailing list is a free forum for discussion which happens by email. (They're also known as email lists and listservs.) On an adoption mailing list, people discuss adoption issues, provide support to one another and exchange information.

Anyone on the list can send an email message to the list's server, which forwards it to every member (including yourself). Any member can reply to your message, so that you can draw on the experience and knowledge of everyone on the list. You can get messages one at a time, or grouped in a daily digest.

Mailing lists are "owned" by volunteer moderators, often adoptive parents. Moderators watch the flow of discussion and occasionally interject comments, but usually don't approve or reject posts. Keep in mind that lists are not monitored or edited by professionals; you may find useful information, or you may get uninformed (not to say inaccurate) comments. My personal choice for Canadian topics is Canadians-Adopting.

To talk to the owner of a list, send email to the list name plus "-owner-". The owner of canadians-adopting@yahoogroups.com is canadians-adopting-owner@yahoogroups.com.

To subscribe, send email to the list name plus "-subscribe", for example, Canadians-adopting-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. Some lists let you join by going to a web site and filling in a form.

If you have lists to suggest, write to Robin Hilborn.

BCadopting, bcadopting@yahoogroups.com, www.topica.com/lists/bcadopting/prefs/info.html. For British Columbians. Meet other B.C. adoptive and pre-adoptive families, and professionals. By Robyn Auclair, kyleandjustinsmom@yahoo.com.

Canada_adpt_int, groups.yahoo.com/group/Canada_adpt_int

Canadians-Adopting, groups.yahoo.com/group/Canadians-adopting. For Canadians adopting domestically or internationally. Good responses from knowledgeable parents and professionals. Co-moderated by Leceta Guibault and Marcia Talbot .

Canadians Adopting From China, groups.yahoo.com/group/canadiansadoptingfromchina

CanadiansAdoptFromUSA, groups.yahoo.com/group/canadiansadoptfromUSA. For Canadians considering adopting or who have adopted from the U.S. Moderator, Tara English, nbsisterfriend1@hotmail.com. --20 Sept. 2001

Cbridgechat, cbridgechat@egroups.com. Restricted to families working with Children's Bridge agency.

CEEA-L, eeadopt.org/home/services/mlists/subscribe. For Canadians adopting from Eastern Europe. By Eastern European Adoption Coalition.

Orphans2u, groups.yahoo.com/group/orphans2u. Romanian adoption. By Sonya Paterson.

Vietnamadopters, groups.yahoo.com/group/vietnamadopters. Toronto-area parents adopting from Vietnam.

Adoption Email Lists Directory, www.comeunity.com/adoption/listservs.html. By Comeunity

International Adoption E-Mail Lists, www.rainbowkids.com/emaillists. By Rainbow Kids

Liszt, www.liszt.com. Mailing lists and discussion groups by subject

Topica, www.topica.com. Mailing lists and discussion groups

Yahoo Groups, groups.yahoo.com. Find a list by a keyword search.