[OPLINTECH] AOL and mass emailings survey

[Greg Syferd]

We looked at the headers and also verified that when AOL does a reverse
lookup on us that they receive a good lookup.  You still might be on to
something...

We did contact AOL and here was they response, which tells me they are
looking for certain attributes (although I am not sure I buy this
one...)

...spoke to Bruce @ AOL this evening regarding emails from CML going
into AOL users spam folders.  He said one reason an email may appear as
spam is if it includes links, which ours do.  He said suggested we
format the links as text rather than a hyperlink.  He also said the spam
folder is available for versions 7.0, 8.0 and 9.0.

We will continue to pursue this.  Thanks for the suggestions!

Greg.




Gregory Syferd
Manager of Systems
Columbus Metropolitan Library
phone: (614) 724-0503
email: gsyferd@cml.lib.oh.us

>>> "Mann, James H." <JMann@gcpl.lib.oh.us> 2/5/2004 4:00:15 PM >>>
The sender is library@library.gcpl the subject is Circulation Notice.
Note no caps, like NOTICE which would get blocked.
My problem with AOL is different. When patrons reply they don't know
how
to include the original text, so I have to figure out whom
"cutegurl004@aol" is to renew her items.

Jim Mann
Technology Coordinator
Greene County Public Library
76 East Market  Xenia OH 45385
(937) 376-2996 x210


-----Original Message-----
From: Don Yarman [mailto:yarmando@oplin.org] 
Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2004 3:38 PM
To: Mann, James H.; 'Greg Syferd'
Subject: RE: [OPLINTECH] AOL and mass emailings survey

Greg--

What Jim says is what I was thinking.  My Hotmail
spam blocker was nabbing Grandview's email notices
because they didn't actually say they were going
to yarmando@hotmail.com.  If "for privacy's sake"
the electronic notices are hiding information about
the sender and recipient, then OF COURSE a spam
filter is going to catch them.  (Heck, for all I
know, Dynix may use a modified spam relayer to 
send notices in the first place).

The "volume of messages" argument does make some
sense, though.  Still, I'd be interested in knowing
how the headers of a III electronic notice differ
from Dynix or Discovery Place notices, and whether
the AOL problem is resolvable there.

Maybe it's just that AOL doesn't seriously consider
Xenia a hotbed of spammers?  (As opposed to you
fiends in Columbus).

                          --DY

> -----Original Message-----
> From: oplintech-admin@oplin.org 
> [mailto:oplintech-admin@oplin.org] On Behalf Of Mann, James H.
> Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2004 3:09 PM
> To: Greg Syferd; oplintech@oplin.org 
> Subject: RE: [OPLINTECH] AOL and mass emailings survey
> 
> 
> Wonder if you should look at something simpler like the 
> sender name, and the subject? AOL does not block my notices, 
> and I send out about 1000 in a batch every morning. Spam 
> blockers work in descending order: IP or domain <appearance 
> of a mail relay> Sender Subject <keywords> Key words within 
> the message
> 
> Thus the recent influx of hieruisticly correct emails with 
> bizarre spellings. For example, our spam blocker used to 
> block our pick list because of the titles of popular bodice 
> rippers, and this weekend AOL blocked a personal email 
> offering a "sax" for sale.
> 
> IMHO
> 
> 
> Jim Mann
> Technology Coordinator
> Greene County Public Library
> 76 East Market  Xenia OH 45385
> (937) 376-2996 x210
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Greg Syferd [mailto:gsyferd@cml.lib.oh.us] 
> Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2004 2:03 PM
> To: oplintech@oplin.org 
> Subject: RE: [OPLINTECH] AOL and mass emailings survey
> 
> Ya but to be honest I don't think the ILS vendors are the 
> people to look at there.
> 
> I think AOL as a practice it appears is now blocking based on 
> volume of emails.  We send out our emails at specific times 
> in bulk.  My theory (and we have not tried talking to AOL yet 
> about this) is that their servers see 1000 message coming 
> into the AOL domain and assume it is spam.
> 
> I guess this does confirm that it is an AOL problem though 
> and not limited to CML.  I intend to try and pursue this with 
> AOL (based on the info Karen provided in the previous post, 
> thanks!) and will let you guys know if I get anywhere.
> 
> We have been telling customers how to "override" this 
> feature, but certainly don't believe they should have to do this.
> 
> I love AOL ;-)
> 
> Greg.
> 
> >>> "Don Yarman" <yarmando@oplin.org> 2/4/2004 2:57:11 PM >>>
> Wes Osborn suggested:
> 
> > I'm wondering if we could approach AOL from a statewide
> > or OPLIN standpoint and see if they are a little more 
> > receptive.
> 
> Possibly, but the issue is obviously bigger than
> Ohio and bigger than AOL.  What changes can the ILS
> vendors make so that electronic notices are
> distinguishable from spam?  I can't accept that the
> ~only~ answer is for each individual client to create
> a special filter rule to allow library messages through. 
> Babies, it seems, are being thrown out with bathwater.
> 
>             Regards,
>                           Don Yarman
>                           OPLIN Library Services Manager
>                           yarmando@oplin.org 
> 
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