1) How useful were the pre-course readings?

1: Readings in the liturgy were extremely helpful. Readings on books of hours excellent and essential. De Hamel a very lucid introduction to manuscript production and culture. 2: Some of the texts were a bit remote both physically and in terms of content or use of language. However RW's book Painted Prayers and -- believe it or not -- the Baltimore Catechism were very useful. Perhaps another more survey-like text of liturgical texts and manuscripts would have been helpful. 3: Very useful. 4: The majority of them were very useful, especially de Hamel, Wieck, and Swanson. The Villeneuve was incomprehensible to me as a beginner. 5: Extremely. 6: Christopher de Hamel was extremely useful. Other books in Catholic liturgical practice were difficult to find and made, at times, for obscure reading. The history book was extremely useful, too (The Church from 1250-1500). Add -- Pre-Vatican II missal in Latin and English. 7: Very useful. 8: A couple of books were impossible to get -- even from ILL. The readings were useful, although briefer books on the liturgical year and books of the liturgy would have been more enjoyable. 9: A few books were very difficult to find and rather hard to digest. I would suggest more books like the de Hamel -- to give more historical/sociological context to the period. 10: They were essential, not only useful; the concepts presented require prior familiarity if one is to get the most from the class. 11: Many books were impossible to find. The ones I did find were useful. 12: Very useful.

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: Very useful. The ability to produce the book discussed (facsimile and secondary works) was extremely helpful in introducing students to the field. 2: The "cheat sheets" that RW handed out are extremely useful for understanding and identifying manuscripts I may encounter at work. I'm sure I'll refer to them often -- sometimes only to show off to my co-workers. 3: A syllabus would have been useful. The handout could have been improved by foliation, and an order that reflected its use in class. Nevertheless it is quite useful as it is. 4: Yes. A topical syllabus might have been nice (listing lecture topics). 5: Extremely. 6: Very much so -- superb leave-behind. Would have liked thumbnail descriptions of various types of ecclesiastical books. 7: Yes. 8: Yes, yes. 9: On time and very useful (the packet would have been helpful to consult while doing the pre-course readings). 10: Yes, very useful. 11: Yes. 12: Very useful.

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

1: Presentation of subject was both sophisticated and accessible. 2: Absolutely. 3: Yes, mostly. Any difficulties I encountered were due to lacunae in historical, liturgical, or geographical knowledge. 4: Very much so. Challenging and extremely interesting, without moving too fast. 5: Course presumed some knowledge and familiarity with medieval Latin and, while not necessarily a prerequisite, warrants mention in future brochure descriptions. Course content was exceptional and more than fulfilled needs and expectations for an amateur medievalist and, I would assume, professional librarians. 6: Outstanding, exhilarating! 7: Yes. 8: Oh yes, it was wonderful. 9: Yes. RW was careful to attend to everyone's experience level. 10: Yes. 11: More background in the subject matter was assumed than I had expected. 12: Yes.

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

1: Extremely. It would be impossible to gain access to such a number of manuscripts in any other and so immediate a fashion. The collections of the Walters Art Museum are exceptional and the staff gracious and accommodating. The UVa Special Collections and Walters Art Museum visits were highlights of the class. 2: Definitely. We fit in a great deal of information and examples in a small amount of time (less than a day considering travel) and in a difficult situation for the institution (the Walters). Perhaps though, another arrangement around the examples could be possible -- less cramped? 3: Absolutely. The trip to the UVa McGregor Room was quite good. The trip to the Walters was superb! Well worth the long journey. 4: Absolutely. The visit to the Walters was a highlight of the course. 5: Field trip to Walters was excellent digression, but in a five day program time could probably have been more productively spent in Charlottesville with the excellent material provided by instructor, RBS, and Morgan Library. 6: Yes -- field trip to the Walters enabled us to see more of the "real thing" and listen to additional expert commentary. 7: Yes. 8: Yes, the experience of seeing actual manuscripts was a good supplement to the slides and facsimiles we saw. 9: Yes, although I would suggest any future trips to Baltimore take place on Wednesday rather than Thursday, as it was somewhat exhausting. 10: Very well. It was a great privilege to see all the materials laid out for us, and the teaching from the materials was excellent. 11: Yes. 12: Yes. Very useful trip.

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?

1-3: Yes. 4: Yes it did. For this course, it would be a good idea to say explicitly that it deals with book content and imagery, but not much on book production. 5: Yes. 6: No -- IT WAS BETTER. Not a "beginner's" course -- really commenced on, and maintained a high intellectual level. 7-8: Yes. 9: For the most part, although I was expecting some time to be spent on secular texts as well. 10: Don't remember the description anymore. 11: For the most part, however, there was less historical context provided than I had expected, and I would have liked more time spent on secular manuscripts. 12: Yes.

6) What did you like best about the course?

1: RW lucidly explained and illustrated through a wealth of slides, facsimiles, and actual manuscripts how a medieval book was read and functioned in the interaction of its text and illumination. The significance of the sacred texts and liturgical books to the religion and secular experience of the Middle Ages was vividly demonstrated. 2: I thought RW's approach to the class as a seminar and lesson for looking at and identifying manuscripts was a very wise idea. This will be more useful and harder to find for most of us than a straight art history survey approach. 3: RW. His knowledge, teaching style, engaging and enthusiastic personality that, I believe, reeled us all into the excitement of looking at manuscript books. Trip to the Walters. The slides and facsimiles. 4: RW's lectures, and the way the course was organized to cover many interrelated aspects of MSS books. RW obviously loves his subject matter and imparted much knowledge and enthusiasm. He also obviously prepared very thoroughly for the class. The Book of Hours identification exercise was a high point. 5: RW is an excellent teacher. 6: The instructor is an expert's expert -- completely versed in all aspects related to the subjects, including history and religion, to provide context for the MSS that we worked with. Really enjoyed the "hands-on" application, e.g. determining "use" of hours. Really important in "training my eye" and giving coherence to the reading which I have done on my own. Appreciated all the suggestions for useful references. Instructor -- witty, charming, erudite, a real "people" person. 7: An excellent introduction to ecclesiastical illuminated manuscript books taught with authority and flair. Good coverage of fundamental ambiguities of the medieval period essential to manuscript interpretation. Very useful lessons in examination and criticism of actual MSS or MSS in facsimile. 8: Everything. The instructor was excellent, well-organized, and really knows his stuff. It is so valuable to have someone present material it would take years of self-study to learn. 9: The seminar-like structure was very useful for keeping me on track and focused, with slide lectures that were well-timed, as well as use of facsimiles. 10: The systematic approach to more rather esoteric concepts, coupled with the clean and precise teaching and well-coordinated visuals. Some of the liturgical concepts might have become tiring with a lesser instructor, but the lectures were never dull and followed from the readings well. 11: Getting the chance to see manuscripts in person at Special Collections and the Walters, although slides and facsimiles were also enjoyable. 12: Explanations of arcane medieval church practices correlated to pictorial representations.

7) How could the course have been improved?

1: Only by making it longer. 2: A more accessible reading list and "cheat sheets" ahead of time. (Although I suppose the tables in Time Sanctified and Painted Prayers should have been enough help.) 3: Hard to imagine with a little fine-tuning here and there, the course would be nearly perfect. 4: It would be helpful if RW would spell out or write on board proper names during his lecture. An end of day Q & A session might have given us a good way to ask all our questions and hold them until a specific time. 5: Course could usefully be expanded into two separate courses, one at a more elementary level for those with limited or no prior experience and the balance providing more intensive instruction for those in field. 6: Lengthen the class sessions to cover even more ground. 7: It was fine as it was. Another course on secular manuscripts (illustrated or not) and on the mechanics of book production in the book market, should be added to the RBS offerings. 8: A perhaps more concise pre-class reading list. 9: A basic iconography book should be added to the reading list (Hall's Subjects and Symbols, for example) to help out those with little to no religious upbringing (*rather than the Balt. Catechism). A brief lecture on the basic structure of MSS, and some attention to secular MSS. 10: Don't know. The presentation and accompanying materials were very good indeed. 11: Some time devoted to secular manuscripts, and perhaps more discussion of the production and use of the manuscripts (the historical context). 12: Not sure.

8) 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: Everything seemed just fine to me. 3: I got a little nervous with all the uncapped pens around materials on our examining table. 4-6: None. 9: I felt the MSS were handled with care by RW, which resulted in the same behavior from the class! 10: The handling of materials was entirely appropriate. 12: None.

9) 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: The trip to the Walters Art Museum was the highlight. For the wealth of manuscripts we were shown and expertise brought to bear in explaining them in detail, this alone would justify the cost of tuition. 2: Everything seemed well-timed and organized as well as relevant and interesting. No complaints. 3: Monday lecture by William Noel was superlative in every way, a real high-water mark for RBS lectures. 4: Enjoyable. 5: Did not attend Study Night or Video Night because of time devoted to Walters trip but enjoyed other evening programs. Would recommend that every program run from 5:30 or 6:00 until 7:30 so that participants can have dinner following program, not before. 6: "Archimedes" was a fascinating overview of high-tech restoration and analysis of very old MSS. 8: WN's lecture was great! 9: N/A. 10: WN's lecture was fascinating and enjoyable. 12: [Sunday night dinner] very good. [Evening lectures] good. [Bookseller Night] okay. [Study Night] very good. [Video Night] OK; one needs a break from intense activity.

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

1: This course is superlative for both specialist and generalist. As such an excellent introduction to the sequence of the history of the book, value for money indeed. 2: Yes! Be sure to do the reading and understand that most of the content of the work examined is non-secular. 3: Yes. Wonderful class. Only advice would be to those with a less than complete knowledge of medieval religion or the Bible to make sure they've done all the reading carefully. 4: Yes. Be sure to do the reading! This course definitely elevated my understanding of medieval MS books to a whole new level, which is exactly what I wanted. 5: Yes. 6: This course would have been cheap at twice the price considering all that we learned. Would love to see a sequel, covering more MSS at even more advanced level. I would recommend this course with great enthusiasm -- it can't be praised high enough. 7: Yes. 8: Yes. I would highly recommend this class to anyone interested in medieval MSS or who works with them. This should definitely be taught again! 9: Absolutely. 10: I would certainly recommend it with enthusiasm. 11: Yes. 12: I got more than my money's worth.

Number of respondents: 12

There were three rare book librarians (26%), three archivists or manuscript librarians (26%), one general librarian with some rare book duties (8%), one teacher or professor (8%), one conservator, binder, or preservation librarian (8%), two book collectors (16%), and one lawyer working with art law issues (8%).

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