1) How useful were the pre-course readings?

1: Very useful. It would also have been helpful to have the professor's own books on the reading list. 2: They were very useful for me, since I entered the course with little background on the subject. Although they all repeated much of the same information, I found that the repetition greatly helped my comprehension. 3: Bischoff -- too difficult, too exclusively paleography. De Hamel -- fine. 4: I thought an explanation should have been given for what to look for in the B. Shailor and de Hamel catalogues, as they are not exactly designed for cover to cover readings. 5: Very useful. The post-course reading will be even more beneficial. Nice bibliography.

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. 2: Yes. The workbook, both because of the bibliography and the examples, will be a great reference in the future. 3: Yes, especially the bibliography. 4: Yes; yes. 5: Yes, especially the bibliography.

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

1-3: Yes. 4: Yes, though there should have been more assignments given to check over in class; particularly, I would have liked to have come out with an honest-to-god manuscript description that was checked over by AD. I thought that perhaps a bit too much time was spent on paleographical issues, although I certainly benefitted from doing the transcription. 5: Yes.

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

1: Yes. We went to the Folger Library and the Library of Congress. Both were excellent. 2: Absolutely. I found working with the manuscripts at the Library of Congress to be one of the highlights of the course. 3: Yes. 4: Yes, the trip was fantastic. 5: Extremely. The trip to Washington was a wonderful trip and a great opportunity to work hands-on with manuscripts at the Folger and at the Library of Congress.

5) Did the actual course content correspond to its RBS brochure description and Expanded Course Description (ECD)? Did the course in general meet your expectations?

1: Yes. 2: I believe so, although I can't remember the brochure well. I certainly was surprised by the course. 3-4: Yes. 5: Yes, very much so.

6) What did you like best about the course?

1: Working with AD -- he's so learned (and friendly too!). 2: The instructor was the best part of the course. AD was both challenging and helpful with students of all levels. His knowledge of the subject is breathtaking. 3: Attention to detail in analyzing manuscripts; gave objective basis for observation; many examples provided; chance to apply what we learned to fragments and actual manuscript books. 4: AD. 5: The professor and the many visual examples.

7) How could the course have been improved?

1: It would be helpful to map out differences between the various schools in terms of codicology and paleographical terminology/classification. 2: I can't think of anything. 3: Don't know. 4: some of that covered already up above. 5: Make it two weeks!

8) We are always concerned about the physical well-being both of the BAP's 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: Have students wash their hands before working with rare materials. 2: None. 3: Have everyone wash hands before handling manuscript materials. 4: I did not feel uncomfortable at all with how we dealt with them.

9) Please comment on the quality/enjoyability of the various RBS activities in which you took part outside of class (eg Sunday afternoon tour, Sunday night dinner, evening lectures, Bookseller Night, Video Night, Study Night, tour of the Alderman digital/electronic centers, printing demonstrations, &c.).

1: I only participated in the Sunday night dinner and lecture. Both were a good introduction to the school. But I didn't meet many people outside of my seminar group. 2: This probably only relates to a few people, but it would be great if the lectures were posted on the web. Yes, those of us who live in Charlottesville could just drop by the BAP to ask, but I realized after the fact about several lectures that I would have wished to attend. 3: Didn't go to Bookseller Night -- just too much bother calling a cab or taking a bus. 4: Lectures good, if esoteric. Sunday night dinner good.

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

1: First advice: Definitely take this course and this professor. Second: Yes [got my money's worth]. Students without experience in paleography should read Cappelli's introduction (it's in Italian, but there's also an English translation) to his Lexicon Abbreviaturarum. Yes. I got my money's worth. 2: A wonderful course. I highly recommend it to all. 3: Take it! Yes [got my money's worth]. 4: This course was superb, and I admire AD and RBS for putting it on at such great effort and so low a price. 5: Extremely good course. AD is quite an inspiration. Highly recommended.

Number of respondents: 05

There were 2 rare book librarians (40%) and 3 full-time students (60%).

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