1) How useful were the pre-course readings?

1: Most useful. Could not have survived without them. 2: The pre-course readings are all classics and are useful. It was also handy to receive an exit reading list which brings together other related works of interest. 3: Very useful. I'm sure I'll refer to them later, too. 4: Very useful, I think. Many concepts and especially names and places were familiar as a result. 5: Not as useful as the course itself. I found it difficult to retain information read two months before class began. 6: Generally useful, though the Warren Chappell book was difficult in part because it assumed knowledge of terms that a beginning student does not know. Otherwise, the books provided a good start. 7: Very useful. Prepared me for the textual framework, language, and background of the course. 8: Quite useful. 9: Very useful for giving a context for the lectures.

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: The course syllabus including most note headings and slide lists were the very best. A great asset in taking the class. 2: Yes. 3: Yes, especially having the names, dates, &c. spelled out so we could know correct spelling. The simple illustrations of format, &c. were also helpful. 4: Both useful in class and later at work. 5: Yes. 6: Yes, they were pertinent to the class and will be useful as a reference in the future. I suggest putting an extra line between each note so that students can add notes of their own. 7: Very useful now and in future. 8: Yes to both questions. 9: Yes.

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

1: Most appropriate and stimulating from the standpoint of the instructor and the students. 2: The intellectual level was appropriate. We had people from a variety of backgrounds, but all were able to contribute and participate. 3-5: Yes. 6: Yes, MA is an excellent, enthusiastic instructor and was both challenging as well as sympathetic to students' different levels of knowledge. 7: Yes. Stimulating. 8-9: Yes.

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

1: Most well spent. Seeing items in Special Collections and 3-D Carter made it come to life. 2: Time in Special Collections definitely well spent. I appreciated the opportunity to see important works housed there. It was helpful to see again works I had seen previously as well, since in the discussions I almost always learned something new. 3: Wonderful use of time -- examining relevant and significant aspects of rare books. 4: Yes, without a doubt. 5: Oh, yes! 6: Yes. 7: Very well spent. Hands-on learning. 8-9: Yes.

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, followed expanded course description well. 2: Yes. 3: Yes, there was a preponderance of earlier materials of the class period (1450-1800) covered, but for me that was good -- allowing more in depth study of that time. 4-9: Yes.

6) What did you like best about the course?

1: The instructor. 2: I especially enjoyed the visits to Special Collections, and the demonstrations of the printing press. I also was happy to see many of the tools and other examples in our "museums." In other words, the hands-on approach was helpful to me. 3: The instructor has a wonderful, open, engaging manner. He made class both very informative and fun. The week seemed to speed by. 4: Working the hand press was the highlight. Otherwise, just being able to see and discuss book and printing issues was a pleasure. 5: MA's teaching style. 6: I enjoyed the class exercise the most. Besides being great fun, it was pedagogically very useful and appropriate. The exercise finally cemented the knowledge gained during the week. 7: The instructor was outstanding. Highly prepared, extremely knowledgeable, clearly interested in giving the students all he could with care. 8: Quality of teaching; enthusiasm of instructor and his depth of knowledge. No pretense when he didn't know he said so. 9: Slides and the hands on experience with books. MA did a marvelous job with lectures and demonstration.

7) How could the course have been improved?

1: More time to see Special Collections materials. 2: We covered not only our period directly, but also studied medieval antecedents and conclusions in the modern era. This was helpful, of course, but I might have concentrated a bit more on the period itself. A minor observation in an otherwise wonderful presentation. 3: Because of my limited background in the field, I enjoyed the focus on the early part of the period (1450-1800); maybe the course should not try to cover so many years. 4: I'm satisfied with the way it went. 7: One hour on the history and development of the title page. 8: I would have preferred more about the later part of our period -- particularly c18. 9: Perhaps some preliminary readings on script would have been useful. It might have saved some lecture time. This might have opened up time later in the week to spend more time on print culture, censorship, &c.

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?

1& 3: None. 4: Perhaps a basic introduction to handling rare materials. I'm not sure everyone is familiar with standard issues. 5: Students be reminded on how to treat rare materials and provide supports for the class materials. 7: No suggestions. 8: None -- in my class everyone treated the materials with respect.

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: Study Night was the very best. The museums were excellent, particularly the binding displays. 2: The Monday Night lectures are always first-rate, and the presentation by Barbara Shailor this year was no exception. I also enjoyed Study Night and Video Night. 3: The evening lecture on both nights was enjoyable. Bookseller Night didn't seem to be very well communicated -- we didn't find many shops open. 4: All activities were good from the standpoint of an opportunity to talk to others. BS's lecture was great, Study Night was useful. Bookseller Night was a bit of a drag because of the rain (however, badly needed). 5: Sunday's dinner offerings left something to be desired. I was able to eat a roll and a cookie because all three dishes were marinated or had mayonnaise. A cold cut tray, vegetable tray or fruit would have allowed me to eat. 6: I appreciated the opportunities at the breaks and in the mornings to interact with other students and instructors. 7: Professional and informative. 8: BS's lecture great!!! Had read her stuff, never met her, know practically nothing about manuscripts but she kept me engaged. Enjoyed social events.

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

1: Yes, I got my money's worth. 2: I certainly feel that I got my money's worth. I will return to my home institution with greater knowledge, and the benefit of having made important contacts. I appreciate greatly MA breadth of knowledge, as well as his intellectual inquisitiveness and friendliness. I'm thankful for the experience. 3: Yes, definitely! 4: Yes. I thought the course was well worth it. The instructor was entertaining and knowledgeable beyond what was needed for the course. I hope he is a regular here. 5: Yes, I enjoyed this class. I was a bit intimidated by the "warnings" in the course literature and unsure as to my qualifications for a seat in the class. I would reword the stern instructions so that future students don't arrive in a state of nervous anticipation. (Alleviated in the first class.) 6: Yes! This course inspired me. I may just become a rare books librarian. 7: Got more than my money's worth. The instructor was terrific, the material throughly pertinent, the school, all in all a wonderful gift to myself for five days. 8: Worth every penny. Advice: do as much reading as possible before coming -- and don't think having read some time ago a recommended book is enough. I made that mistake and suffered for it. 9: Yes.

Number of respondents: 09

There were three rare book librarians (33%), two full-time students (23%), one general librarian with some rare book duties (11%), one antiquarian bookseller (11%), one book-collector (11%), and one retired librarian with bibliophilic interests (11%).

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