REPOST: rec.collecting.books FAQ

# 1.1 What is REC.COLLECTING.BOOKS?
* It is an unmoderated Usenet newsgroup devoted to discussion and
questions related to all aspects of book collecting. View the charter at
http://www.rcbfaq.com/charter.html for details.

# 1.2 How Do I Participate?
* The best way is probably using a dedicated UseNet program, such
as are bundled with browsers or available separately. Your internet
service provider can provide instructions for connecting to the
newsgroup. [Mike Berro]
* You can also participate in the newsgroup using your browser.
Google allows you to read and post messages to the the newsgroup
("UseNet.") Rec.collecting.books is available at
http://groups.google.com/groups?qrec...asite%3Dgroups.
An introduction to UseNet is available at
http://groups.google.com/googlegroups/basics.html. [Mike Berro]
* Google also has a searchable archive of previous messages, so
you can see what has been previously discussed. [Mike Berro]

# 1.3 What Kind of Posts are Inappropriate?
* Want to buy ...
* For sale ...
* For auction ...
* For trade …
* Visit my commercial website.
* A list of books for sale is available from ...
* All commercial messages are inappropriate for this newsgroup;
use "rec.arts.books.marketplace", or one of the other marketplace
newsgroups to post such messages. [Mike Berro]
* Do not include images or other files in your message. Many
people pay by the minute, and these sometimes take a long time to
download. Instead, upload it to a website, and then post the address.
[Mike Berro]
* Messages that use MIME, HTML, or any other format besides plain
ASCII text. [Lawrence Person]
* Before participating in Usenet you should make sure that you
have read at least the articles on netiquette in news.announce.newusers.
* More information can be found at; "Usenet Info Center Launch
Pad" at the URL: http://sunsite.unc.edu/usenet-b/home.html.
* and "Learn the Net: An Internet Guide and Tutorial, at URL:
http://www.learnthenet.com/english/index.html. [Jon Meyers]

# 1.4 What Kind of Posts are Appropriate?
* Who else collects ...?
* Where can I find information about ...?
* Event announcements: Fairs, shows, auctions, etc.
* What information about it can anyone tell me?
* About how much is it worth? (Please check the major online
catalogues first: see section 2.4.)
* What edition do I have?
* If nobody seems to be discussing what you want to talk about,
post a (polite) message opening the discussion. Don't just say, "Does
anyone want to talk about X" or "I really like X" however; try to have
something interesting to say about the topic to get discussion going.
Don't be angry or upset if no one responds. It may be that X is just a
personal taste of your own, or quite obscure. Or it may be that X was
discussed to death a few weeks ago, *just* before you came into the group.


The rec.collecting.books FAQ is maintained by Mike Berro, and can be
viewed in its entirety at: http://www.rcbfaq.com


--Jon Meyers