1) How useful were the pre-course readings?

1: I found de Hamel's The Book: A History of the Bible extremely interesting and relevant to course content. The Eisenstein book was a hard read, but MD put into context during course. The second de Hamel illustrated pamphlet provided a non-threatening picture book for post-course review. 2: Readings were extremely helpful in giving background and context to the class sessions and examples. 3: They were quite useful. I got much more out of the class having done the readings. However, one could have come to class without having done the readings and not been lost. The instructors also provided us with an excellent bibliography for further readings on various topics. 4: Very useful and very enjoyable. I'm looking forward to reading more from the larger bibliography given in class. 5: They were very useful in priming me for the course. 6: The pre-course readings were very useful. I entered this course basically from the perspective of a novice, so the background reading was helpful with terminology and a good overview of what to expect in the course. 7: Useful context. Because there is so much to cover, pre-course readings were essential. 8: Very -- they gave me a good vocabulary to work from so I had a better understanding of concepts as they were presented in class. 9: Somewhat useful; did not read all. 10: Very. I will also be reading the suggested readings and some of the readings of other courses of interest. 11: Very good.

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 -- all handouts relevant and in point. 2: Yes. They were useful in class and will also be helpful in the future, in review, and in looking at books in our collection when I return. 3: Yes, everything was appropriate and useful. I plan to make use of the bibliography when I got home. 4: Yes, very. It's obvious a lot of time was put into them. A lot of this material should be very useful to me in my work. 5: Yes, most appropriate and helpful. 6: The materials distributed in class were helpful to me because they enabled me to get a visual grasp of what was being described. 7-8: Yes. 9: Useful in class and when I return home. 10: Yes and yes. 11: Yes.

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

1: Yes -- stimulating presentation for a survey course where having articulate and well-read instructors makes the difference. MD strutted his stuff -- he was always interesting, opinionated, and entertaining. JB served well in providing examples and further amplification. 2: Yes. Provided review of knowledge and offered much more new material as well. For me the additional contextual information was helpful in looking at and understanding the book as artifact. 3: Yes. The instructors did a great job of presenting the material in a fashion that made it both accessible to the uninitiated and intellectually stimulating to those of us with more experience with the material. 4: I thought it was a very good mixture of general concepts and specific examples, made to give one a very good overview. Much practical information was given, touching at least several times on all participants varied areas of work. 5: Yes. 6: The intellectual level of the course content definitely was appropriate. The depth of knowledge demonstrated by both JB and MD kept the class interested to the end of every class. 7: Yes -- I was unsure of the level from the pre-course readings, but happy with the high level expected and put forth from the instructors. 8: Yes. Even when dealing with abstract concepts -- which were presented clearly and coherently, yet not "dumbed down" for the class. 9: Yes. 10: Given that this was an introductory/overview course covering a huge topic over many decades, yes, and extremely interesting and informative. 11: Yes.

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

1: Trip to Library of Congress was a once-in-a-lifetime career opportunity -- to spend the day looking at Library of Congress treasures with the full attention of the Chief, MD -- I waited almost 30 years for this! 2: Yes! The day at the Library of Congress was EXHILARATING! 3: Yes! It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get to have a guided tour of the Rosenwald Collection from the curator. It was a veritable orgy. It would have been great to be able to spend more time at the Library of Congress, but I don't know how that would be possible logistically. 4: It was a treat -- it was great to see all of the fabulous titles. It gave me a rare chance to learn a tiny bit of what it is like to work at the Library of Congress, and the world of rare books in general. 5: I cannot imagine this course without the time we spent in Special Collections or without our field trip to the Library of Congress. Talking about a book is miles away from being able to experience it there in front of you. 7: Yes -- the various "show and tells" in UVa Special Collections worked well. Having two opinions or "takes" on a particular work also deepened these sessions. The Library of Congress visit was on a different level -- remarkable. 8: Absolutely! We had several trips to Special Collections -- all of which were valuable. Also, the field trip to the Library of Congress was excellent -- three cheers to MD for the first-class tour of treasures! 9: Yes. 10: Absolutely! The visit to the Library of Congress in Washington, DC was fantastic and valuable. 11: Yes.

5) What did you like best about the course?

1: 1) The enthusiasm the instructors brought to the sweep of the topic. 2) The unbelievable number of examples from the treasure boxes. 3) The UVa Special Collections show and tell and the frequency of visits to see collection items. 2: A very balanced approach -- between intellectual, informal, independent, and group learning. 3: The sheer breadth and depth of MD's knowledge was impressive, coupled with terrific interpretive skills and presentation of the material with great wit and panache. I've encountered other walk-throughs of this subject matter, and what I found particularly valuable in this class was the instructors' emphasis on the connection of the history of the Western book and the history of Western thought. Also, the RBS collection is particularly suited to teaching this type of course. Loved the "scribal" exercise and the "Hypnerotomachia" exercise. 4: That the instructors were well versed and obviously love their field. That effort was made to make the course lively and that it included so many examples of books and physical materials and machines used to write/publish manuscripts and books. Really effective teaching examples. 5: The instructors were incredible. It is one thing to have expertise in a field -- it is another to be able to convey it with enthusiasm and an underlying (yet unmistakable) passion. They did this. 6: MD and JB made the class both informative and enjoyable. They both possess the amazing ability to "make the books speak and tell their stories." 7: The instructors' manner of teaching -- with examples -- and availability to a variety of questions stands out. The visit to the Library of Congress was a thrill and a memorable experience for all involved. 8: MD has an ability to teach without presenting himself as the authority on the subject. That is, he is open to our ideas and able to reach us all through a clever conversational style. It's not so much like being taught as it is simply like talking to an old friend who knows more about the subject than you do. The field trip to the Library of Congress was a very memorable part of the course. The scribe exercise was also a huge success. And the syllables -- now that was fun. I'm sure we'll all (fondly!) remember how to say "Hypnerotomachia Poliphili, 1499" for the rest of our lives thanks to that exercise! 9: The instructors. The materials (examples). The other students. 10: Many excellent materials, seeing and touching rare and valuable books and materials was both a thrill and in some instances a once in a lifetime opportunity. I also liked both instructors, their sense of humor, their interaction with each other and the class. They brought knowledge, wisdom, inspiration, dedication, excellence, balance, seriousness, and levity to the experience. They are an excellent team. MD is brilliant in the depth and breadth of his knowledge, and JB has an excellent grasp of the portions he taught. They both have an excellent teaching style, and I recommend them each and both without reservation.

6) How could the course have been improved?

1: I'm too close right now to answer this question. I've been inundated with factoids, examples, and quick-paced presentations. 2: I was a late acceptance -- I wish I had more time for the readings. 3: There are inherent limitations to this type of survey (or ignorance?) course -- not much you can do about that. Some things are bound to be given cursory treatments. The instructors did a great job of making sure each student found out what they wanted to know and tailoring the material to suit our interests. 4: More on the technical end of the 20th century? Maybe its sociological aspects? 7: The course exceeded my high expectations. No suggestions. 8: I would like to have had more time with some modern book art books -- we spent so much time learning how the book got put together in the first place that learning about the different ones would have been fun. 9: Two weeks instead of one. 10: I don't know that it could have been. Perhaps longer class days -- shorter breaks.

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: I was very pleased to see so many relevant examples. I thought appropriate care was given to the materials. 2: None -- but I would like at this point to express appreciation to UVa's Special Collections for their kindness and cooperation! 3: The instructors, particularly JB, in his role as Curator of the RBS collections, did an excellent job of instructing the class on the proper handling of the materials. 5: (Everything was handled with the utmost care.) 6: N/A. The instructors and the students were always careful with the material. 9: Larger classroom.

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

1: Yes -- would have preferred a 7 pm start. 2: Yes. I appreciated the evening offerings. 3: Yes -- worth attending, nice for the social aspect, but not essential. 4: Yes. They gave me two more perspectives on different jobs in the book world. Very well spoken and thoughtful. 5: Yes. 6: N/A. 7: Skipped Monday night's lecture to get exercise. Sunday's gathering was a needed way to meet other RBS students and "get into the RBS mode." 9-10: Yes.

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

1: We were unable to attend because of the trip to the Library of Congress. I'm sorry I missed Study Night. 3: Was on field trip that night -- N/A. 4: Didn't attend -- on field trip. 5-6: N/A. 7: Was on the van coming back from the Library of Congress -- great trip, but could and would have been willing to pay for a train ticket to DC instead of driving there. 9: N/A. 10: Our "away from campus" field trip was on the day of Study Night and we returned late, so I (we) could not attend.

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

1: Yes, definitely got money's worth. I'd heard about UVa RBS -- I'm very glad I was able to attend this class. The organization and administration is quite something -- every detail is considered and taken care of...with resulting discipline and regimentation (all for the good results). 2: Yes! For the information, the level of knowledge and talent of the instructors (!), the quality of the books and materials and resources -- the course was unquestionably an excellent deal for the cost! THANK YOU! I hope to attend other RBS classes in the near future! 3: MD and JB were a great team, and I'm sure that if they teach this course again together they will only get better -- they complemented each other well, and there were many instances of unplanned synergy. What a treat to have had the opportunity to take this class! I would definitely recommend it to others, even if they think they might have too much experience to take a survey course such as this. I've encountered much of this material previously, and I found it was time well spent. MD's classroom manner is supremely entertaining. See also question five. 4: Yes. It was a great experience. Do the reading so even more will sink in when you're here. 5: I whole-heartedly recommend this class. It was time well-spent -- a hearty overview and the instructors were just pretty damned fabulous. 6: This was a WONDERFUL course! I highly recommend it. In fact, I would describe it as DAMN FABULOUS!! Gentlemen, take a bow!! :) 7: Yes. The course is a lot of information to retain. The pre-course readings help -- do them. MD and JB were a very good team. I can see myself thinking back on memorable "teaching lines" or examples from this course on an almost daily basis at my research library. Great foundation to build on. Thank you. 8: Yes! This was a great course for someone like me who knew very little of books, printing, &c. before taking the class. It's hard to believe the amount of material, vocabulary, concepts, and ideas I've absorbed this week! From "burp" to "squash" and beyond, I now feel as if I can approach my own collection with more enthusiasm and understanding of what I'll find when I open the pages. MD taught us how to read a book without ever focusing on the content of the text itself -- yet we're now able to guess what that very content may be based on what the book looks like -- from how it's printed to the kinds of illustrations to the binding. Wow, wow, wow! 9: Definitely worth it. Probably the best class I've ever taken (and I've taken many classes). 10: Yes, whether it helps me professionally or vocationally. If you want or need an introduction to or overview of the history of the book this course is a must-take, two thumbs up, five star experience.

Number of respondents: 11

There were two general librarians with some rare book duties (19%), one rare book librarian (9%), one archivist or manuscript librarian (9%), one antiquarian bookseller (9%), one conservator, binder, or preservation librarian (9%), one book-collector (9%), one law librarian (9%), one para-professional who works with rare books (9%), one individual who works at Reader Services (9%), one individual who is considering a career change into the world of rare books (9%).

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