1. How useful were the pre-course readings? 1: The more you could read in advance, the more you could get out of the course, but I don't think extensive reading is a prerequisite. The reading is more supportive than essential. 2: Excellent. 3: Very. Directly related to course content. 4: Very useful. General, but a good grounding point. 5: I read all the books recommended in the reading list and they did help me very much. 6-7: Very useful. 8: Somewhat. They did focus on topics not covered. 9: Helpful.

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, I intend to keep the handouts. 2: Yes ­ yes ­ yes. 3: Yes. 4: Yes, very useful. 5: They were appropriate for the course and I will use them in the future, as well. 6: Extensive bibliography, many handouts. An overall syllabus or outline of topics to be covered during the week (and given out at the beginning) would have been helpful. 7-9: Yes.

3. Was the intellectual level of the course content appropriate? 1: Yes. I found it pleasantly mind-expanding. It is impossible to say that one RBS course is better than another, but I found this one very pleasantly and rewardingly diverse and stimulating. 2: Very challenging. 3: Yes. And the instructor was able to adapt the content to whatever level the question. 4: Yes. 5: AD is a real scholar and a true teacher. He taught an exceptional course. 6-9: Yes.

4. If your course had field trips, were they effective? 1: Yes, I think it was useful to see the items in both Folger and LC. Traffic was awful, though! 2: Yes, Washington: Folger, LC. Cordial welcome at both, especially LC. A long drive both ways for 1½ hours standing in the Folger and two hours standing in LC. 3: Yes (although there's no way to avoid consuming time on the trip to Washington). 4: Of course. 5: We had a whole day trip to the Folger Library and to LC and about an hour in Special Collections. 6: Yes, although we could have used more time if we had not returned for the evening lecture. Next time, forego the lecture and extend the field trip day. 7: Yes, indeed. 8-9: Yes.

5. 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, I would say that the course even exceeded my expectations. This course has probably done more to take me from ground zero to a higher level than other RBS courses, no reflection on them. 2: Yes. Plus. 3: Yes. 4: It was better than I expected. 5: Yes, it did correspond to the RBS brochure description, but it surpassed my expectations. I feel extremely privileged to have attended this course and plan to take any others that AD will teach in the future. 6: Yes. 7: Yes ­ and my expectations were high. 8: Yes. I learned everything I hoped to learn, was not overwhelmed by overly technical material, and gained valuable knowledge that I had not expected to be covered so fully. 9: Yes.

6. What did you like best about the course? 1: AD. I think he is a graciously courteous and interested teacher. I admire that he feels such commitment, spending two weeks in the US, giving introductory level courses in his field. I am impressed that someone of his stature would teach introductory courses and do it so well. Obiter dictum: The only other person I know who does this was also from the Low Countries. 2: Gaining knowledge (my primary purpose). Instructor's knowledge and patience answering questions. People (all but one pill). Examples and slides. Hands-on work with MSS. 3: Seeing how the expert handled the manuscripts, his approaches to them, details to notice. 4: AD. He really is a wonderful lecturer, incredibly thought-provoking. 5: The high level of scholarship, the way AD patiently explained the more difficult aspects of codicology, his great sense of humor. 6:The clarity with which the course was presented. The ability to actually see how the concepts used in codicology may be applied. 7: The instructor's constant flow of information, entertainingly presented. 8: A reintroduction to my favorite academic discipline, something I hadn't expected until grad school with its attendant pressures. This seems much more enjoyable. 9: Knowledge and experience of the instructor.

7. How could the course have been improved? 1: I really don't have a suggestion. I was very pleased. 2: Maybe my hearing is going, but I had to strain to understand AD, who drops his voice at key words. 3: No remarks. The mixture of lecture with slides and in-class exercise kept one's attention at the ready. 6: More time with actual manuscript fragments. 7: Couldn't. 8: Can't think of anything.

8. Please comment 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, evening lectures, Bookseller Night, tour of the Alderman digital/electronic centers, printing demonstrations, &c. 1: The Bookseller Night is my favorite. 2: I was very tired all week ­ I tried to get to all of it, but it was a stretch. (This is me, not RBS.) Most of the extracurriculars were lost on me, even when I went (guilt & compulsion?). Sunday dinner was enjoyable. Four of us hung together for meals ­ pleasant company. 3: Evening lectures were worth the time. I enjoy walking the Grounds as much as anything. 4: The events seemed a bit under-attended. A bit lax, perhaps. No need for formalities, of course. Bookseller Night, for instance, seemed like a bit of a scattered affair. 5: I attended all the evening lectures and found them informative and enjoyable. 6: Sunday night dinner was a good way to meet some classmates ahead of time. Lectures were of varying quality and interest, but I am glad to have attended all of them. 8: Didn't do much, but found the opportunities tremendous. 9: All enjoyable.

9. Any final thoughts? Did you get your money's worth? 1: Yes, definitely. I really feel like I can now make a beginning at describing and inventorying our MSS. I would only re-emphasize that I am impressed and grateful that AND possesses the "noblesse oblige" to do such missionary work. 2: RBS signage in Alderman was a big help. Being assigned (unrequested) to a handicapped room was a plus. I had mentioned on the phone to housing that I have a bad knee, and not to put me on the third floor. My room had a level entrance, which I discovered after Day 2. 3: Yes. My only remark is that the first few hours are introductory, after which (if these seem benign) the real material appears. 4: Of course. 5: I sure did! I would recommend RBS to any of my colleagues. 6: Yes. Advice ­ be prepared before your arrival as there is no time to do it afterwards. 7: Yes ­ not that money can buy this extemely high level of instruction. 8: Better advertising. Target classicists. 9: Advertise more in classical journals (and do it several times) to get people for these courses. You must keep them and AD.

Number of respondents: 9

PERCENTAGES Leave Tuition Housing Travel Institution gave me leave Institution paid tuition Institution paid housing Institution paid travel 44% 65% 44% 44% I took vacation time I paid tuition myself I paid for my own housing I paid my own travel 0% 35% 56% 56% 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 56% 0% 0% 0%

There were nine students: three teachers/professors (34%), two general librarians with some rare book duties (22%), and one each editorial assistant, model builder for an art studio/advertising agency, rare book librarian, and rare book/archive/manuscript supervisor (11% each).