1) How useful were the pre-course readings?

1: Some too difficult for neophyte. Would have been useful to have them graded for difficulty. 2: Very, though some more than others. Bischoff -- yes. De Hamel -- beautiful and OK as a very general introduction, though less pertinent to this class. Readings from Stiennon and (? Name-Italian) [student could not remember name] not additive.

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

1: Yes. 2: Syllabus will be most useful in trying to recollect and reconstruct everything I've learned. AD chose excellent examples to make his presentation clear and very valuable.

3) Was the intellectual level of the course contentappropriate?

1: Yes. 2: Yes, definitely.I almost feel as though this course had been custom-designed to meet my needs -- but I think this is largely attributable to AD's ability to identify students' needs and adjust accordingly.

4) 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: Very much.

5) What did you like best about the course?

1: Chance to do transcriptions with expert guidance. Fact that it concentrated on gothic script, the kind most often encountered in library collections. 2: The intensity and in-depth exploration of a daunting subject; well organized and systematic so that the course helped me to get a handle on the material in a very short time. "Total immersion" paleography.

6) How could the course have been improved?

1: It would have been useful to have a chart of the defining characteristics of each type of script from the beginning of the course. 2: Hard to imagine that it could.

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?

2: None.

8) Please comment on the quality/enjoyability of the various RBS activities in which you took part outside of class (e.g. 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: Enjoyed Sunday dinner, lectures, Bookseller Night. 2: All these enhanced the experience and made a newcomer feel welcome. I'd like especially to commend the Commissars and staff in charge of breaks.

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

1: Yes. 2: Yes. Definitely worthwhile -- I highly recommend this course for all with an interest in the medieval book. This course packs a college semester's worth of material into one week -- but brush up on your Latin first.

Number of respondents: 2

There was one rare book librarian (50%) and one full-time student (50%).

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