Christopher Clarkson
21: Medieval and Early Renaissance Bookbinding Structures [B-40]
3-7 March 2003

1) How useful were the pre-course readings?

1: Helpful, although the vocabulary I picked up wasn't particularly used. I could have used some other vocabulary. 2: Very, especially The Paper Conservator articles. The George Duby text was more background material. 3: Very much. 4: Useful introduction to history of technology theme of course. 5: Didn't have time to read anything. Added to class late. 6: They were extremely useful and stimulating. 7: Very. 8: Very useful. 9: Very.

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. 2: Absolutely. 3-5: Yes. 6: Yes, very. 7: I couldn't get the Miner book. 8: Absolutely. 9: Yes.

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

1: I was very happy to feel that I could keep up. 2: Perfect, technical knowledge was clearly explained. 3-5: Yes. 6: Very appropriate and high. 7-9: Yes.

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

1: YES! 2: Yes, though three hours to Baltimore was a bit much. 3: Yes. 4: Very well spent. 5: Long drive but time spent at Walters Art Museum VERY useful. Only time we got to see actual examples. 6: One of the best days of my professional life. 7: The Walters visit was essential. 8: Yes. 9: Very important field trip.

5) What did you like best about the course?

1: Good pace, good slide illustrations, other useful illustrative materials. 2: CC's detailed presentations and the combination of slide lecture and anecdotes. 3: Everything. 4: The instructor -- his experience is invaluable. 5: Examining actual books at Walters. 6: CC. 7: Walters visit. 8: Professor. 9: Hearing CC talk.

6) How could the course have been improved?

1: I'm not sure. 2: Add a table of contents to the workbook. 4: Maybe more practical information on conservation practices in treating these materials. 5: Too bad UVa doesn't have books we could have examined. 6: Could've been longer. 8: It was great. 9: Teach two versions of the class alternate years -- 1) one slated for conservators 2) one slated for rare book librarians, &c.

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?

3: None. 5: Before handling Medieval MSS at Walters participants should have been given handling instructions. 8: No suggestions.

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

1: Sunday was interesting. 2: Yes. 3-4: N/A. 5: Sure. 6: TB was very informative. 7: No.

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

1: YES! 2: I'd seen most of it before. 3-6: Yes. 7: OK. 9: Yes.

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

1: Definitely. Enjoyed every minute. 2: Yes. It was very enjoyable. 3-4: Yes. 5: Yes. Always. 6: Definitely -- TAKE THIS COURSE!! 7: Yes. 8: Absolutely. 9: Yes.

Number of respondents: 09


Percentages

Leave Tuition Housing Travel
Institution gave me leave Institution paid tuition Institution paid housing Institution paid travel
56% 22% 22% 22%
I took vacation time I paid tuition myself I paid for my own housing I paid my own travel
11% 56% 33% 45%
N/A: self-employed, retired, or had summers off N/A: self-employed, retired, or exchange N/A: stayed with friends or lived at home N/A: lived nearby
33% 22% 45% 33%

There were five conservators, binders, or preservation librarians (56%), two general librarians with no rare book duties (22%), and two rare book librarians (22%).


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