1) How useful were the pre-course readings?

1: N/A. Accepted late and this was an introductory course. 2: The pre-course readings were very helpful and instructive. It will be particularly interesting to compare my understanding of the material before and after the class. 3: It was helpful that I had read many of the readings for other courses. In general, I believe that they are useful. 4: I was unaware that there were pre-course readings, hence I read on my own, prior to coming to RBS. 6: Readings provided an excellent background. 7: Very useful. I felt like they gave a good general overview so that I was familiar with the material ahead of time. 8: Very useful -- I felt I came well-prepared. 9: The pre-course readings were extremely helpful. 11: Very interesting for getting historical background, for organizing the history.

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: I understand that the handouts will be more extensive next year, but the syllabus and introductory notes that were handed out were comprehensive. I took extensive notes in class that I will review at leisure. 2: The materials will be very useful as I plan to refer to them often, following my return home. I plan to refer to them before my attendance at book fairs as well, in order to "refresh" my knowledge of the subject matter. 3: Yes, but more is needed. See question number six. 4: The syllabus is very useful, but an outline detailing what will be covered each period would help. 5: The course syllabus was appropriate and will definitely be of use in the future. 6: The syllabus was well written and will supplement class notes. I value the bibliography especially. 7: Definitely -- especially the written introduction to the course. 8: Yes; yes -- I would have appreciated a few more handouts particularly about differences in binding styles across time and geography. 9: Yes. 10: Yes, to both aspects. 11: Yes, although a more extensive syllabus with either pictures or drawings of bindings would have been helpful so we could take notes and have the visual [images] at hand.

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

1: Yes indeed! 2: Yes, the level was appropriate. 3: Yes. 4: ABSOLUTELY! 5: The level of the class seemed very appropriate to both novices and professionals alike. There was a thorough grounding in basic binding description, but also a good deal of elaboration on style, binderies, &c. 6: Appropriate, although an introduction, provided a vast amount of information. 7: Yes. 8: Quite appropriate. 9-10: Yes. 11: The level was stimulating and pitched at about the right level.

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

1: The visit to Special Collections and the demonstrations given there by JSvL were the highlight of the course! Excellent. These brought the previous lectures/slides to a brilliant conclusion and assisted further study greatly. 2: N/A. 3: Yes. 4: Yes -- the arrangements in Special Collections were excellent. Having an RBS associate to help "move the books" helped a lot. 5: Yes, we spent time at Special Collections where JSvL was able to show real examples of what he had pointed out in slides earlier. He was also able to supplement his teaching by showing more American bindings. 6: Special Collections was one of the high points of the class. Useful to see actual books and their sides to complement the slides. 7: Yes. The materials in Special Collections made the topic more "real" and expounded on the information given with the slides. Probably the best day in class! 8: Very well spent. 9-10: Yes. 11: Very useful to see the examples; filled in some details.

5) What did you like best about the course?

1: Everything that was planned was covered -- excellent. For a first course run, the pace was necessarily fast, but not too fast as to miss anything. I very much liked the broad spread of the general time line and the comparative study of techniques by country within each period. 2: The course was stimulating and impressive. I found that I became so immersed in the subject matter being discussed that I forgot the time. Among all the courses I have taken for various degree programs, I found this to be one of the most stimulating, engaging, and exciting. I enjoyed every minute. I would highly recommend it. The instructor is extremely enthusiastic about the material and this attitude helps make the subject matter even more interesting. 3: Seeing bindings and getting a feel for the historical context. 4: The depth of the course and the knowledge of the teacher. He is a very pleasant and helpful man, which made this course wonderful. 5: I enjoyed learning about the various decorative motifs, learning the craft entailed in bookbinding -- the art history aspects of the course, being able to identify various leathers. An excellent overview. 6: I enjoyed the teacher's passion for his topic and his willingness to share his knowledge. 7: Seeing the actual examples in Special Collections. 8: JSvL/learning about the historical styles. 9: Going to Special Collections to see the actual books that JSvL had talked about in class and had shown us slides about. 10: The "hands-on" opportunities. 11: The broad overview and being able to see distinctions in binding styles.

6) How could the course have been improved?

1: It was much better than I had ever expected; one of the best courses that I have attended at RBS. More handouts are to be provided for next year. These are always appreciated. 2: I do not have any suggestions -- except that I would have liked the course exercises to be longer, simply because I enjoyed it so much. 3: More cheat sheets or time lines are necessary, although difficult to produce. These should generally give information about overall developments over the centuries but also provide country and regional developments. A simple spreadsheet might suffice. Such would be helpful regarding especially tools. 4: Perhaps if bindings were taught first by country (through all the covered centuries) and then contrasted by century -- different national styles might be learned more thoroughly. 5: Perhaps we could have handled items more than we were allowed. Being able to physically hold and handle an item can sometimes imprint a memory better than just hearing about it. 6: It was extremely well organized; I'm coming away from the course with exactly what I had wished to learn. I don't know how to improve it. 7: If there was time, a quick review would have been helpful, or maybe at least a handout with some main features of the bindings from each century. 8: No idea. It was very good. 10: Usual "first time" experience that I'm sure will disappear as the course becomes "one of the regular" offerings. 11: A handout with visual representations that could be embellished with notes from lectures.

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: JSvL had this covered very well -- I don't think that there was any danger of damage occurring. Cannot think of any improvements necessary. 2: There was no problem in this area. I did not take note of any problem. 3: Concerns for handling materials were noted through the week. Improvements may not be needed. 4: None. 6: I saw no problem. Class members handled materials with attention and care. 7: In a previous class, materials were passed around in baskets, which seemed to reduce excessive handling and wear and tear. 8: Perhaps part of the preliminary material (pre-arrival) could include a short pamphlet regarding the handling of rare and old books.

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

1: Yes -- always attend this, essential for getting the best out of the whole RBS experience. The Monday lectures are always good and Sundays's are essential for meeting friends, old and new. 2: Both lectures were extremely engaging; I enjoyed both. 3: Even the repetition of a lecture (if one attends more than once a year) allows one to come away with thoughts and ideas missing that first time. 4: Sunday -- yes. Monday -- it seemed to be comedy night -- a more serious topic/approach would have been helpful. 6: I enjoyed the Monday night lecture. 7: Yes -- both enjoyable. 8: Sunday night's lecture was very good. Monday night's was amusing but not particularly worthwhile, and was somewhat smug. 9: Yes. 10: Yes, to both. 11: Yes, to meet other students and hear a relevant book topic.

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

1: Yes -- and was very pleased that my personal request to handle more examples of leathers was accommodated -- a whole box was brought down for me to play with. 2: Yes, I felt the time was very fruitfully spent -- I had an opportunity to study the various lectures and attended an informal lecture on the recently acquired diced Russia calf. 4, 6, 8: N/A. 9: Yes. 11: I didn't attend this time but it is a nice display of RBS materials.

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

1: This is the best course imaginable on the subject -- essential for an introductory understanding of the subject -- and a lovely experience seeing the beauty of some of these wonderful bindings. JSvL is the best for sure! A gentleman and a scholar! 2: Yes, I absolutely got my money's worth! I certainly hope many students have an opportunity to attend this course. I envy them the opportunity! 3: Yes. This being the first time for the course, it had a few rough edges. These, I am confident, will be worked out with repetition. Overall, although knowing much, I learned much and would consider taking the course again in a few years. I like JSvL very much and would indeed like to work myself into a position such as his, although few, if any, positions like his exist elsewhere. 4: Yes, most definitely. This course should be a requirement prior to the courses given by Nicholas Pickwoad, Sue Allen, and Mirjam Foot. 6: Well worth taking the course. My interest has been sparked in studying more of binding history and styles. 7: Absolutely! Great class -- thanks for adding it! 8: Yes. I would highly recommend JSvL as a teacher. He was not only willing, ready, and fully able to answer questions but always did so genuinely and fully. Plus he has a very enjoyable voice. 9: YES! 10: Yes. Very good course, highly recommended. Future course consideration: Photography and Bookmaking. 11: Yes, this was a good course to start with as far as bindings go. I enjoyed the instructor's lectures and slides and appreciated his knowledge ad experience in the field.

Number of respondents: 11

There were three book-collectors (28%), two antiquarian booksellers (18%), two conservators, binders, or preservation librarians (18%), one rare book cataloger (9%), one general librarian with no rare book duties (9%), one general librarian with some rare book duties (9%), and one rare book librarian (9%).

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