BOOKS AT VIRGINIA: RARE BOOK SCHOOL (RBS) offers a collection of five-day, non-credit courses on topics concerning rare books, manuscripts, and special collections. Students make a full-time commitment to any course they attend, from 8:30 am to 5 pm, Monday-Friday; most students also attend an informal dinner on the Sunday evening before their first class on Monday. In addition to the formal classes, there are early-evening public lectures and other events throughout the four weeks of RBS.

The educational and professional pre-requisites for RBS courses vary. Some courses are primarily directed toward research librarians and archivists. Others are intended for academics, persons working in the antiquarian book trade, bookbinders and conservators, professional and avocational students of the history of books and printing, and others with an interest in the subjects being treated.

The tuition for each five-day course is $595. Low-cost, air-conditioned dormitory housing will be offered on the historic central grounds of the University, and nearby hotel accommodation is readily available. Students are encouraged to take advantage of RBS's housing to arrive a few days before their course, or stay a few days later, in order to give themselves (and their families) a better chance to explore the Charlottesville area, which includes many sites of historic interest as well as various vacation attractions.

For an application form and a copy of the RBS 1997 Expanded Course Descriptions (ECD), providing further details about the courses offered this year, write Rare Book School, 114 Alderman Library, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903-2498; or fax 804/924-8824; or email biblio@virginia.edu; or telephone 804/924-8851. Electronic copies of the Expanded Course Description and various other RBS documents can be accessed through our World Wide Web site.