1) How useful were the pre-course readings?

1: Essential. 2: Exceptionally useful syllabus. Three out of the four texts were historical, one critical. In the future, perhaps a bit more theory would be useful -- especially the theory of collection. 3: JD's The Century of Artists Book was essential, helpful, and inspirational. The other material seemed less vital -- both while reading it and in retrospect -- more historical background that needed/needs a context that I didn't/don't have. 4: JD's The Century of Artists Books wonderful -- some of the other reading less so, but the critical oeuvre for artists' books is not that extensive. Look forward to JD's new edition. 5: Very useful. 6: Very helpful. 7: Useful. I don't think it was necessary to require each book to be read in its entirety before attending the class. 8: Very helpful for historical background and context for the course.

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: Very helpful both during the class and as a resource for acquiring reference works at my home institution. 2: Absolutely -- a resource I will be sure to keep in my reference collection. 3: The list of works we looked at was/will be vital. One added reading was more than I had time or energy to handle, but the article by Brad Freeman and JD on offset helped/will help immensely. 4: Yes. Yes, plan to share them with others. 5: Yes. 6: Very much so, particularly the working bibliography. 7: Oh yes. Thank you JD! 8: Yes.

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

1-2: Yes. 3: Absolutely -- beyond my ken enough to be "inspiring," but with enough wit. 4: Yes. 5: Yes, JD's critical, historical, and aesthetic discourse was at a very high level. 6: The real pleasure of this course was the highly intellectual bent of the instructor, tempered by her dry sense of humor. 7: Very much so. 8: Absolutely.

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

1: Yes, the Special Collection visits were one of the highlights of the course. 2: Remarkably so. 3: Absolutely. 4: Yes. 5: Yes, daily visits to Special Collections were useful; but the depth and quality of the collection as to artists' books needs to be improved. 6: Special Collections was visited daily and was generally useful. Some additional items could be added with good effect and some subtracted. 7: Yes, well spent. Would have liked to have been allowed to handle the materials. 8: Absolutely.

5) What did you like best about the course?

1: Its variety -- it was very well organized with lectures, hands-on demonstrations and evaluations, field trips, &c. 2: I appreciated the sequence of the day, moving from lecture to the collection to demonstration to guest lecture. Tactile and experiential, lively and critically engaging. 3: I liked the variety of discussion, seeing books, having artists give presentations -- that and of course JD's knowledge, experience in the field, her wit, her willingness to be inclusive. 4: 1) JD's outstanding teaching -- focused but with room for diversion. An opportunity to see wide range of materials (and to handle some). 2) Case method for evaluating books -- good instead of solely instructor's dicta. 3) Opportunity to meet artists (Freeman, Dass, Casey) and talk with them. 5: Instructor. Exposure to many aspects of the field. Critical and aesthetic appreciation/approaches. 6: New ways of conceptualizing artists' books and the opportunity to review numerous books together as a class. 7: Enjoyed the class discussions and the artists' visits (best). 8: What I find most rewarding in taking any course is the level of growth that happens in a week's time. I learned a tremendous amount and came away with solid information and resources to continue learning.

6) How could the course have been improved?

2: N/A. 3: More time, more time. 4: I can't imagine. It was a valuable and enjoyable course. Absolutely first rate. 5: Seeing/access to high spots of an artist's works -- i.e., availability at Special Collections of artists's top works. More European/foreign books. 6: Perhaps a bit more time could be devoted to the questions that participants came with or that arose during the week. 7: Not sure that it could have.

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?

2: None. 3: N/A. 4: Reminder to class not to bring in beverages or food. Provide pencils (I forget mine.) 5, 7: None.

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

1: Yes, very helpful. 2: Absolutely. 3: Monday's lecture was a surprise -- a delightful one -- a new area for me, presented with wit and depth and insight. 4: Yes -- enjoyed Dagenais's talk even though I was fatigued! 5: Sunday was fine. Didn't attend Monday. 6: Very interesting Monday lecture. 7: N/A.

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

1: Yes, very unusual and interesting. 2: Yes, on both occasions. 3: N/A. 4: Yes -- enjoyed demonstrations and opportunity to talk to TB about vellum quires. 5: Yes, it was interesting. 7: N/A.

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

1: Yes, well worth the time and money. 2: This course came at exactly the right moment in my studies. I am quite certain that this will continue to radically enhance my scholarly investigations, and inspire a new interest in the discourse and approach to the book. One more critical step in bringing the worlds of literary scholars, textual scholars, and the book arts together. I cannot express my satisfaction with this experience, but hope to continually in the words and works to come. 3: I have a lot more than I'll ever be able to repay -- in more than merely monetary terms. 4: I will recommend it to art librarian colleagues, and as an advisor to UNC SILS student group (Art and Museum Library and Information Student Society) will encourage them to apply and to read JD's The Century of Artists Books! 5: Yes -- as to the value -- both as to the course and RBS in general. Read the instructor's book in its entirety prior to class. In sum, a high quality course which provides excellent historical, critical, and aesthetic application. 6: A very stimulating week and a marvelous experience. 7: An unbelievable opportunity and value. 8: Money well spent. Artists' books course was very valuable for individuals who serve institutions as well as for the connections that happen between participants.

Number of respondents: 08

There were two art librarians (25%), one rare book librarian (12.5%), one archivist or manuscript librarian (12.5%), one general librarian with some rare book duties (12.5%), one full-time student (12.5%), one antiquarian bookseller (12.5%), and one book-collector (12.5%).

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