Online Resources for Graduate Students in Medieval Studies
Online Resources for Graduate Students in Medieval Studies
Aug 16, 2010 Melissa Elmes
Graduate school is a time for serious students to immerse themselves deeper into their chosen fields of study. Most students at the graduate level are well-versed in the many online resources available to them for research purposes, including online archives and special collections, library databases, scanned manuscripts, and journals and other academic websites. But one resource that is often overlooked by graduate students either because they don't know about it or because they don't feel they belong professionally is the academic listserv.
What is an Academic Listserv?
An academic listserv is an online discussion forum, usually based on a university server and moderated by one or more professional scholars. Listservs are usually dedicated to one specific subject or interest group. The listserv is a clearinghouse for current discussions on the subject to which it is dedicated, and also almost always stores an archive of past discussions as well. In most cases, listservs are free and open to new members; membership is achieved by sending a subscription notice to the moderator.
Why are Listservs Useful for Graduate Students?
There are four primary reasons for which belonging to a listserv makes sense for the graduate student in medieval studies. Firstly, reading through the current and archived discussions can help graduate students to get a feel for the questions and research interests that are most current in a given field of study. Secondly, posting one's own questions and issues can yield a rich variety of responses from scholars around the world.
Thirdly, many scholars post calls for papers for panels and roundtable discussions at conferences such as the International Medieval Congress at Western Michigan University and Leeds, for journal submissions, and for essays for edited collections on listservs. And fourthly, many notable scholars belong to a number of listservs, and therefore participation in listserv discussions can serve as an excellent opportunity to introduce oneself and to network with other scholars in a field of study.
Read on
What Listservs Are Available To Graduate Students in Medieval Studies?
There are listservs available on almost any academic subject. Some of the more popular listservs include:
- Anglo-Saxon Studies (ANSAX-L): listserv@wvnvm.wvnet.edu
- Arthurian Studies (ARTHURNET): listserv@morgan.ucs.mun.ca
- Chaucerian Studies (CHAUCER): listserv@listserv.uic.edu
- Medieval Feminist Studies (MEDFEM-L):
- Medieval History (MEDIEV-L):
- Medieval Language & Literature (MEDTEXTL): listserv@postoffice.cso.uiuc.edu
Edwin Duncan has compiled a full list of medieval listservs, along with an explanation of what subject(s) are covered on each.
Graduate school is the opportunity to train to become a professional in a field of study. It is common for graduate students to belong to professional organizations such as the Medieval Academy of America, but often academic listservs are overlooked as the valuable professional resources they are intended to be. Joining the listservs in one's field(s) of interest allows a graduate student to enter into the scholarly discussions being held by the larger professional community and ultimately to feel more connected to the world of medieval studies.
Copyright Melissa Elmes. Contact the author to obtain permission for republication.