1) How useful were the pre-course readings?

1: Very useful -- some I was familiar with, but re-reading was useful and enjoyable. The Peters collection of essays was exceptional and practical. Tanselle's bibliography enough for a lifetime and though prepared some decades ago remains a great help. Readings might be updated and include something (if IT exists) about implications of knowledge regarding Internet communication. 2: I believe there should have been more about Internet buying and the Internet in general. Also more about cataloging. I confess there were a couple of books that I did not get to read. These may have dealt with the issues raised above. 3: Many of the readings were helpful, but the list would have been more useful if it also included more recent material -- on the role of the Internet, for example, and other current developments in the field of book collecting. 4: Very useful and very interesting reading. 5: Useful, especially for familiarizing oneself with some of the names and terms in the trade. 6: Helpful as a re-read for most of the books. 7: Moderately useful. Readings were outdated, male-dominated (subject matter and authorship), and in some instances extraneous. 8: Had read some already. Very useful and interesting. Ongoing value.

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, particularly guide to Internet sites and research vehicles. The Friday session was extremely important for me, and the Barlow/Belanger guide to getting through the maze of tax aspects and other matters related to collecting and abandoning collections will be of lasting help to me. 2-3: Yes. 4: Yes. The handouts and syllabus will serve as an invaluable resource for further reading and further reference. 5: Very useful. I am particularly excited about the reading list, the list of bibliographical societies, the list of book Web sites, and several other class resources handed out during the week. Lots of reading and research to explore after RBS. 6: They needed in some cases to be updated. 7: Course syllabus appropriate. Some handouts need updating. For some materials distributed, see response to question number one (above). 8: Yes.

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

1: Yes, for the most part. Anecdotes generally -- though not always -- to the point. Sometimes I felt a disconnect between instructors and the group. Examples chosen for illustration from collections of collectors of earlier generations -- Phillipps, Hoe, Huntington, &c. not always relevant to the situations and collections of those in the group. 2: I refuse to comment on the grounds that it might incriminate me. 3: Absolutely. Very lively and stimulating. 4: Yes. The course offered much useful information and many interesting and instructive anecdotes. In scope it really did cover book collecting from cradle to grave. I especially appreciated the sessions on housing and caring for a collection. 5: Yes. 6: Mostly. 7-8: Yes.

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

1: Disappointing to see only the crowded stacks and only a peek at the Special Collections room with no opportunity to see any of the notable treasures this library holds. 2: Yes. 3: Yes. It offered a change of pace and another perspective. 4: Yes. I have always wanted to see the rare book stacks. 5: Yes. Walking through Special Collections worked well with topics of institutional buying, donations, and holdings. 6: Yes. 7: Visit to Special Collections was well spent indeed, though would have appreciated show and tell (for some reason such activity was purposely excluded). Being in such close proximity to this rich collection, not having show and tell was a tease. 8: Yes.

5) What did you like best about the course?

1: The interesting variety of other members of the class. The pricing exercise and opportunity to check auction prices -- perhaps more of that in later years. Perhaps invite members of future groups to bring an example from their collections -- show and tell would be helpful as well as interesting for instructors to comment and make suggestions. 2: WB's discussions of the tax aspects and dealing with the questions of appraisals were very good. The Price Lab was very useful, particularly utilization of the Internet and WB's kibitzing on the activities we (our team of three) were doing. Preservation presentations were also very useful. 3: The intellectual stimulation and the high caliber of both instructors and students. Both TB and WB are excellent instructors, very generous with their knowledge. 4: 1) WB's and TB's anecdotes. They both tell good stories, or should I say, tell stories well -- the anecdotes make the instruction more memorable. 2) I also enjoyed meeting other book collectors. 3) Kathryn Morgan's presence in the class helped by representing the institutional perspective especially as to relate to a collection's future destination. 5: The teachers. You couldn't ask for two better resources, especially in an "ignorance class." 6: The tax aspect of the course was instructive. 7: I now consider myself a serious book collector, not a dilettante; this course provided me validation. 8: Enjoyed experiencing and hearing viewpoints of private collectors -- their challenges, interests, &c. As compared with institutional. Enjoyed hearing more "historical" anecdotes from instructors. Enthusiasm of participants.

6) How could the course have been improved?

1: More time for discussion, especially the pricing routines and purchasing skills on eBay, as well as with dealers. 2: I felt we should have spent more time on cataloging. A workshop time with each of us getting some hands-on experience with "Access." More discussion about what others do. More discussion about MARC records. 3: For my own interests, I would have liked a section devoted to identifying modern first editions and more on cataloging one's own collection. 4: Cannot think of any ways now. 5: Possibly entering areas of substance earlier -- places to buy, value of books, general trends, organizations, &c. One handout that would be wonderful to have as a reference is a list of major auctions over the last century or so, what year it was, and field of expertise. Would be very handy to have to refer to. 6: More relevance to the interests of six women book collectors who mostly do not collect very early material. More history of book collecting with present day applications. 7: See question ten. 8: It was just right.

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?

1-2: N/A. 4: None. 5: Things handled very well. 7: Handling was appropriate and welcomed.

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

1-2: Yes. 3: Loved the Monday night lecture (Selby Kiffer). Thought the Sunday lecture too heavily emphasized the need for funding. 4: Definitely! SK gave a very entertaining lecture -- but one that also demonstrated the use of bibliographical knowledge beyond the academic world. 5-6: Yes. 7: Yes. Considered TB's opening remarks erudite and an appropriate introduction for five days of listening to TB six hours per day. 8: Absolutely.

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

1: Exceptionally. Nicholas Pickwoad deserves a medal as book artist and the opportunity to use the shelves most welcome. How about an entire afternoon session of this as well? 2: Absolutely. 3: Yes. 4: Yes. This and the Monday night reception were the best opportunities for socializing with others not in my course. 5: Yes. Carter exhibit was excellent and all parts showed much time and effort. Very instructional. 7: Yes.

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

1: A costly week but I feel that I have learned a good deal. Some mistakes I have already made I can be more alert to in the future, and more importantly, the week has helped me clarify my goals and the best path to them for the future. This is what I hoped for, so hope fulfilled. Many thanks! 2: My area of collecting is very tight, so it was hard to accommodate all my needs. I wanted some help in assessing the usefulness of NUC, Shaw-Shoemaker, Swem [?], &c. This was not dealt with, but perhaps that would have been impossible given the variety of the student collections in the class. I also felt a little embarrassed by all the expert care and attention provided by the instructors, given my rather lowly situation. 3: Yes, I definitely felt I got my money's worth. It was great to have KM of UVa Special Collections in the class, and I think RBS should consider including other appropriate librarians in the future. 5: Yes. It was particularly illuminating to have a librarian from UVa Special Collections here; I would suggest this be made a formal part of the course. It provided a unique and revealing viewpoint not often exposed or considered by the average human. 6: It was helpful to have KM in the class. A person from the library every year would benefit our outlook. 7: Definitely got my money's worth. Do have a few suggestions/comments: 1) Class discussions, though totally relevant, did not include matter directly related to any of our own collecting. Not one of us collects modern firsts, incunables, illuminated manuscripts, history of science, Caxton, Baskerville, or Walpole, needless to mention stamps and coins. 2) Though book collecting, dealing, selling, appraising, &c. seems historically male, our class only had one. Can we puhleez hear more of Doheny and less of KRAUS. Also, I do believe these days use of pronouns other than he and him is appropriate. (What about Rostenberg and Stern?) 3) Would have appreciated discussion regarding future collecting, e.g., hot spots of the future, as well as the future of books, period. Much was made of our youthful colleague. She sadly remarked on her solitary interest on several occasions. What future does collecting have to a nonreading generation? 4) Our book catalog exercise, though helpful, could have been reallly (like Rrreallly Mint) helpful had no prices been included and we guessed, and had books of interest to us personally been included. How about a mock auction?

Number of respondents: 08

There were four book collectors (50%), two full-time students (25%), one teacher or professor (12.5%), and one rare book librarian (12.5%).

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