One of the new ways that libraries can serve their communities is by hosting online services such as message boards and email lists. The fact they are library-supported gives them a built-in trust factor and boundaries of interest. Someone in Alaska, say, is unlikely to subscribe to the mailing list of a Tennessee library, which gives the list a neighborly feeling.

Some things I know about moderating conversations in virtual space is a list of hints on how to manage such places and keep them going.