Deborah J Leslie
13: Rare Book Cataloging [L-30]
6-10 January 2003

1) How useful were the pre-course readings?

1: The pre-course readings were important to help set the context of the course, but I understand them much better now upon completion of the class. I would suggest that particular emphasis be placed on examining Examples to Accompany... carefully before coming to class. 2: Very useful and completely necessary. It would have been very difficult to fellow lectures if I hadn't already done the readings. 3: Some of the readings were very useful. Particularly TB's article. Some of the optional readings (Tanselle) were not as useful. 4: Fairly useful -- I found parts of the Gaskell a little dense. 5: Very helpful. 6: Extremely. 7: Very useful. 8: Very useful -- gave some knowledge and background -- was not totally lost when class began. 9: Very useful. 10: Excellent. 11: Very helpful.

2) Were the course syllabus and other materials distributed in class useful (or will they be so in the future, after you return home)?

1: Yes -- particularly the workbook and cataloging examples. 2: They were very appropriate and well organized. Much of the information will be a useful as a reference source in the future. 3: Very useful. 4: Yes -- to both. The workbook itself is almost worth the price of admission -- full of extremely valuable resources. 5: Yes, nice basis for collection of "good" cataloging resources. 6: Very useful. 7: Very useful; good future reference resources. 8: Yes -- the syllabus will be a great resource in the future. 9: Yes. 10: The workbook will be an invaluable resource. 11: Yes.

3) Was the intellectual level of the course content appropriate?

1: Yes. 2: Yes, and the pace was perfect. 3-4: Yes. 5: Perfectly. 6: Yes -- good for beginners in rare books with cataloging experience. 7-9: Yes. 10: Excellent -- challenging and stimulating. 11: Yes.

4) If your course had field trips, were they effective?

1: Yes. 2: Yes. Our visit to Special Collections helped to clarify particular terminology (edition, issue, impression, and state) as well as let us have a chance to view the department. 3: Yes. 4: Yes -- it was fascinating to hear Professor David Vander Meulen talk about his own experience with bibliographical description and to see actual examples of different issues of the same edition. 5: Yes, the field trip really helped illustrate some confusing states. 6: Yes -- we got another facet of our learning. 7: Yes, one good field trip to Special Collections. 8-9: Yes. 10: Yes -- interesting and useful. 11: Yes.

5) What did you like best about the course?

1: I liked the transcription and other hands-on work we did in class and also for evening assignments. It was also helpful to do some transcription work in small groups to facilitate discussion and understanding of rules and principles of DCRB cataloging. 2: DJL's position at RBS and her work on DCRB revisions allowed her to speak frequently about upcoming changes to DCRB. I can't imagine a more qualified person to teach this course. 3: The combination of lecture and hands-on format to learn rare book cataloging. I enjoyed working in teams and groups with classmates. 4: (The cataloging practicum.) DJL is an excellent teacher! 5: Getting answers to lots of questions. 6: Going through the DCRB and examples and hands-on work. 7: Good attention to detail. Good opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences with other rare book librarians. 8: The course was well planned out -- followed a logical projection. 9: Expert instruction, hands-on examination, and analysis of hand-press books, expert criticism of students' cataloging practice. 10: Good mix of activities. Very well organized. Pacing was excellent -- we were always moving at just the right pace. Instructor was knowledgeable and enthusiastic. 11: The instructor was first-rate, and made everyone comfortable. The videotapes on bookmaking made a lot of concepts clearer. All the hands-on exercises were valuable, and assigning transcriptions and cataloging exercises for evening work was helpful.

6) How could the course have been improved?

1: I hate to say it -- more homework?! We don't need much more but perhaps another title page or two would provide us with the opportunity for more hands-on work. 2: A few more homework assignments to give us a little more "hands-on" practice. 4: I can't imagine. 8: More time spent on policy. 9: Provision of a more extensive MARC tag list would be helpful. 11: Maybe, and only maybe because it might not be worth the time on a short course, to compare copies in hand to existing records to aid in copy cataloging.

7) We are always concerned about the physical well-being both of the RBS teaching collections and of materials owned by UVa's Special Collections. If relevant, what suggestions do you have for the improved classroom handling of such materials used in your course this week?

1: No suggestions. 4: I thought we were very careful -- always washed our hands before handling any of the materials. 8: None. 9: None. Materials were well cared for.

8) If you attended the Sunday and/or Monday night lectures, were they worth attending?

1: Yes -- both lectures were interesting. As a first time RBS student, I found TB's address on Sunday night to be particularly informative. 2: Yes, I enjoyed both of them very much. 3: The Sunday night orientation lecture was very worthwhile, Monday night was not as worthwhile. 4: Yes to Sunday -- good introduction -- didn't attend Monday. 5: Yes. Mr Dupont gave a splendid paper. 6: Interesting lecture on Dante -- it's great to hear the adventures of a book. 7: Yes. 8: The Monday lecture was great. 9: Yes. 10: Monday night lecture -- excellent. 11: Yes.

9) If you attended Museum Night, was the time profitably spent?

1: Yes -- Museum Night on Wednesday was wonderful -- such nifty stuff! 2: Yes, the range of the RBS collection and how it is organized were particularly interesting to me. 3: Yes. 4: Yes, indeed! I loved the Linotype demonstration. 5: Yes. 7: Yes. 3D Carter was very useful resource. 8-9: Yes. 10: I loved Museum Night. 11: Yes, very much so.

10) Did you get your money's worth? Any final thoughts?

1: Enrolling in this RBS course was well worth the time, energy and expense involved. I have attended a variety of different workshops or continuing education opportunities for Special Collection librarians, but the RBS program is unparalleled in its excellence in and commitment to promoting a better understanding of printing and rare books. I look forward to returning in the not too distant future and learning more! 2: Absolutely! I would definitely recommend RBS, this course, DJL to anyone considering attending this institution. 3: Yes, I got my money's worth. This was an excellent, intensive course! The instructor was excellent. She was able to teach the complicated cataloging rules in an organized manner. 4: Yes. I would advise students to do the required reading, but to realize that all will be explained in the course of the week. I highly recommend it. 5: Without question. 6: Yes, absolutely. Long life to this school! 7: Very positive experience. It made me want to take other RBS courses. 8: Yes, this was the most fun I have had cataloging in a long time. 9: Yes. Highly recommended. 10: Absolutely. This class was superb. It could not have been better. 11: It was money well spent for training which is otherwise nearly impossible to get.

Number of respondents: 11


Percentages

Leave Tuition Housing Travel
Institution gave me leave Institution paid tuition Institution paid housing Institution paid travel
73% 55% 64% 64%
I took vacation time I paid tuition myself I paid for my own housing I paid my own travel
9% 27% 36% 36%
N/A: self-employed, retired, or had summers off N/A: self-employed, retired, or exchange N/A: stayed with friends or lived at home N/A: lived nearby
18% 18% 0% 0%

There were four rare book librarians (36%), four general librarians with some rare book duties (36%), two archivist or manuscript librarians (19%), and one full-time student (9%).


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