1) How useful were the pre-course readings?

1: They were interesting; useful mostly in the long term (ie not entirely necessary for full appreciation of the course itself). 2: Very useful. I had previously (years ago) read three of the five titles and found it very helpful to re-read them. The two that I hadn’t read before were fascinating and very relevant. 3: Somewhat useful. 4: Fit well with the course. 5: Very useful. List of good length - not too much. Excellent selection. 6: Useful. 7: Very helpful. 8: They were mostly useful and interesting. 9: Useful, and adequate for the course. 10: Very useful.

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: I always find RBS bibliographies among the best parts of the courses; the binding handouts may well prove just as useful. 2: Yes, very much so: the bibliographies on relevant subjects, which NB reviewed with us, provided useful comments on many titles. Exercises demonstrated practical situations for applying the course lessons. 3: Extremely useful and will be used often, I am sure. 4: Very much so. 5: Syllabus was very sparse -- but sufficient and gave a sense of direction and pace for the course. Other materials (bibliography, examples) were useful, and I expect them to be in the future. 6: Yes. The bibliographies will be very useful back at work. 7: Yes, very. 8-9: Yes. 10: Very useful -- will be retained.

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

1: Yes. 2. Yes, fine. 3: Yes, absolutely. 4: Yes. 5: Yes, I think so. 6-7: Yes. 8: Yes. Right on the mark. 9: Yes.10: Yes - somewhat high for my level of ignorance.

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

1: Yes. In fact, the best part of the course was when NB would speak to a particular book (which, happily, he did often). 2-4: Yes. 5: Yes, trips to Special Collections and Reference were necessary to see certain materials. Reference tour was helpful, but could have benefitted from better coordination -- ie a better understanding on the part of the Reference librarian regarding the nature of the course. 6-7: Yes. 8: Yes. NB brought out many things that were appropriate, but would have been awkward or inefficient to bring into the classroom. 9-10: 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?

1-4: Yes. 5: Well, yes and no. Yes, the content dealt with perceiving copy-specific information. Not enough about making use of that information and relating it to current scholarship/users. 6: The title of the course was mysteriously all-encompassing; the description was a bit more informative. In the end, though, both fit the experience, and I mean that as a compliment. 7-9: Yes. 10: Did not understand the brochure description completely, but the course content was most informative and useful.

6) What did you like best about the course?

1: NB. Also, the short discussions on heraldry and localizing bindings will be quite useful. 2: Listening to NB describe and discuss individual copies of books, as well as his experiences and opinions from a life with books. His breadth and depth of knowledge are beyond compare, and he seems to take a genuine pleasure in sharing them, and in encouraging the enthusiasm of others. 3: The instructor, working on the assignments, and discussions in class. 4: The willingness (and ability) of the instructor to answer in detail (and, interestingly, questions on a variety of aspects of book production, history, and library operations). Amazing amount of detailed knowledge. 5: The instructor! NB’s erudition and experience are so remarkable that nothing else about the course could compare. 6: The examination of individual books directed by NB’s formidable expertise. 7: Instructor’s knowledge and use of concrete examples to illustrate the points he made. 8: It exposed me to different ways of thinking about books in the collection other than as entries in a catalog or bibliography. NB showed us how unique a book can be and why those points may be important or relevant. 9: NB. His enthusiasm was infectious, his erudition remarkable.10: Hands-on experience of the subject under discussion, and the instructor’s subtle humor, reminiscent of the Flanders half of the British comedy duo of Flanders and Swann.

7) How could the course have been improved?

1: The "set precis" on the contents of books, and short histories of libraries and the book trade were not particularly useful; I would have appreciated more direct advice on the identification of typefaces. 2: Perhaps just a teeny bit less talking on the historical background (history of books from antiquity to the Middle Ages) and more on practices, trends, &c of the printed-books period. 4: Only by more of it, I feel. This instructor seems to have practically unlimited knowledge of book-related subjects. I feel that I learned a lot. 5: See no.5, above. 6: In no way whatsoever. 7: Perhaps a little less time spent on the classics and heraldry. 8: I can’t think of anything. 9: More time ... another day or two with NB. 10: If it were twice as long. Realistically, perhaps skipping the morning break?

8) We are always concerned about the physical well-being both of the BAP’s 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: Perhaps everyone should be given a handout or be forced to watch a video on locally acceptable practices in book handling; even, especially, those who "know." The wear and tear on hinges from unsupported, opened covers was staggering. 2: By and large, this was OK. However, all of us used and held pens while also handling the books. 3: Use of book cradles. 4: Books were handled very carefully, including those damaged previously in the service of bibliography. 6: Liked the baskets. No book supports (wedges) in the classroom, however. 7: None. 8: Provide some book supports. 9: Yes, an applicable question. I was amazed at some of the four-figure books just being "passed around." 10: Materials seem to have been well handled.

9) Please comment on the quality/enjoyability of the various RBS activities in which you took part outside of class, eg Sunday afternoon tour, Sunday night dinner and videos, evening lectures, Bookseller Night, tour of the Alderman digital/electronic centers, &c.

1: The dinner, videos, lectures, and Bookseller Night were all, as usual, rewarding and entertaining. I wish that our research assignments had not made me snatch so much time away from breaks, lunches, and other opportunities to foregather with fellow students. 2: The Sunday Night Dinner and videos were very enjoyable and interesting, and the lectures this week were all very interesting. I sacrificed Bookseller Night to do homework in the library, but wouldn’t have bought anything, anyway (haven’t in the past). 3: The lectures were very enjoyable. 4: Everything was appropriately and well done. 5: Roger Wieck’s lecture was a disappointment. Bookseller Night was fun. The William Barlow and TB lectures were, respectively, fun/interesting and informative. 6: WB’s lecture was first-rate. The pen-ruling and Twinrocker videos were particularly enjoyable. 7: Evening lectures were not the strongest they have been, but still were enjoyable. 8: The lectures were nice. 9: All were fun, appropriate, and not-to-be-missed. 10: Both evening lectures were superb. I am certain no one dozed, even though both were slide lectures. It was nice to see two new videos.

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

1: Any opportunity to spend time with NB is well worth the taking up. 2: Thank you, TB, for carrying on so well. And thank you, NB, for giving this course again. 3: It was a privilege to be a part of this class. The instructor very generously shared with us his vast knowledge of books - and he patiently answered and elaborated on any question that came up during and after class. 4: Take it. You’ll find it to be well worth the expense. 6: I could not recommend this course too highly. It is a real privilege to spend a week with someone who knows so much about books. 7: Yes, a wonderful experience. Instructor was always knowledgeable and encouraging. 8: I got my university’s money’s worth. 9: Yes [got my money’s worth]. 10: I should have read more on c15-16 printing and publishing.

Number of respondents: 10

There were six rare book librarians (60%), two retirees (20%), one antiquarian bookseller (10%), and one archivist/manuscript librarian (10%).

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