Peter Blayney No. 33: The Company of Stationers and the London Book Trade to 1637 29 July - 2 August 1996

1. How useful were the pre-course readings? 1: Good background, but many things were not really clear until the class. 2: Very useful. 3: Interesting for pedagogical perspective. Much of the reading list seems to have been chosen so that it could be disproved or discounted in class. 4: The articles were useful. I decided not to read the Blagden book in advance because I had been warned that I would have to unlearn portions of it. 5: Very useful and not too voluminous, ie it was possible to read the important bits. 6: Extremely helpfulnecessary evenfor adequate introduction and potential to capitalize on the course. I wish there had been more, even if just suggested. 7: Very. 8: Very useful. 9: Very useful. 10: Critical to the course. I think it would have been very difficult to follow the course without having read them.

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, the notebook PB put together was very useful and will help me later. 2: Yes, very. 3: Yes. I'd actually like some annotation, but a selection of useful books and articles is useful in itself. 4-5: Yes. 6: There was a "course-pak" of sorts with a strong bibliography; they were useful both during the course and, I anticipate, in the future. 7: Exceptionally. 8: Yesthe workbook is terrific. 9: The handout (which was beautifully prepared by the BAP) was and will be very valuable. 10: I will continue to consult them.

3. Was the intellectual level of the course content appropriate? 1: Yes 2: Quite highintense, yet ranged widely. 3: Yes. Subject was treated in proper depth. 4-5: Yes. 6: Demanding, but appropriate; a few lapses. 7: Indeed. 8-10: Yes.

4. Did the actual course content correspond to its RBS brochure description and Expanded Course Description (ECD)? Did the course in general meet your expectations? 1: Yes and yes. 2: Yes, corresponded pretty closely. Not as much on actual censorship machinery and cases as I expected, but I see now why all the attention to other matters was necessaryindeed crucialto prepare the way. A lot of STC era bibliography got taught, and taught well, in this course. And if one looks again at PB's course title, it is accurate! 3: Yes, although one recognizes the right of the instructor to modify the course according to the needs and interests of the class. 4: Yes. 5: More or less agreed with the RBS brochure description, but in general far exceeded my expectations. 6: It absolutely corresponded, and certainly fulfilled expectationsalthough those were somewhat vague. 7-8: Yes. 9: Yes, yes. 10: Yes, in every way.

5. What did you like best about the course? 1: That the instructor was so knowledgeable and interested in sharing what he knew. The use of participant presentations in the last two days. I learned a lot about what other people were doing and got ideas for teaching. 2: The instructor's unusual combination of intensity and good humor, and his constant concern to keep the lectures and discussion moving along and focused on essential points, even while remaining open for questions in passing. 3: The comprehensive nature of the narrative presented. I felt that I received a solid grounding in the subject. 4: The instructor's command of the subject and his sense of humor. 5: PB is an inspired teacher. His enthusiasm is infectious, his grasp of the subject faultless, and his manner of presentation makes the classes highly enjoyable. Each day was different, classes were relaxed, and the group, I think, worked well. I feel that I have learned a great deal, but primarily have enjoyed the course tremendously. 6: PB is an outstanding scholar and teacher, full of information, with a healthy combination of perspective and investment in his work. 7: The wealth of information, much of which is unavailable elsewhere. The delightful manner in which it was presented. 8: PB's lectures were excellent and a lot of fun. I also enjoyed the students' presentations (and having the opportunity to prepare one myself). An all around terrific course. 9: Instructor was a mine of useful information and detail and an excellent speaker. He clearly loves his material. 10: PB. He was informed, eager, animated, a delight. Rare Book School should see to it that he continues to offer this course.

6. How could the course have been improved? 1: Logistical suggestionfive minute wiggle break in the middle of each 90-minute period. Clemons is petrifyingly cold. 3: Perhaps a little more time for the individual presentations. 5: OK. 6: More class discussion, as opposed to just Q and A format, would have been nice. It would have required homeworkie, readingsbut I would have enjoyed hearing classmates' input more often. 7: I dunno. Two weeks? 9: I can't imagine how. 10: I have no complaints.

7. Please comment at will on the quality/enjoyability of the various RBS activities in which you took part outside of class, e.g. Sunday afternoon tour, Sunday night dinner and videos, Bookseller Night, tour of the Etext Center or Electronic Classroom, printing demonstrations, evening lectures, &c. 1: I attended one lecture and wanted to attend the other but was simply too tired. Had I been staying on the Grounds it would have been easier, but I could not afford to pay for housing. 2: Fine. 3: Always a delight. 4: I attended only TB's lecture and thought it very informative and entertaining. 5: OK. 7: Good. 8: All were great. 9: Excellent. 10: I only attended TB's lecture, which I always enjoy.

8. Any final thoughts? 2: Don't change anything. One learns a lot. 3: Do the reading and bring plenty of pen and paper. 4: I'm looking forward to the publication of PB's book on the Stationers' Company. 5: Just take it. 7: Just do it! You'll love it! And please, PB, finish the book! I want more. 9: Course description sounds a bit forbidding, but the material (and the instructor) are in fact very accessible. 10: Read ahead. Read PB's stuff and the other things on the list. The more you know, the more you'll appreciate PB's astonishing command of his subject.

Number of respondents: 10

PERCENTAGES Leave Tuition Housing Travel Institution gave me leave Institution paid tuition Institution paid housing Institution paid travel 60% 48% 50% 60% I took vac- tion time I paid tui- tion myself I paid for my own housing I paid my own travel 0% 22% 30% 10% N/A: self- employed, re- tired, or had summers off N/A: self employed, retired, or exchange N/A: stayed with friends or lived at home N/A: lived nearby 40% 20%* 30% 30%

*The tuition of one student (10%) was funded by financial aid; the tuition of another (10%) was by exchange or barter.

There were ten students: four were rare book librarians (40%), three were full-time students (30%), two were teacher/professors (20%), and one was an antiquarian bookseller (10%).