L-50. Advanced Seminar in Special Collections Administration

30 July - 3 Aug 2007 in Charlottesville

1) How useful were the pre-course readings?

1: Very useful. They gave a nice overview of topics and were some of the best I have encountered on a variety of topics. 3: The leadership readings were particularly helpful; would like more recent publications added to the overall reading list. 4: The pre-course readings were good. The leadership section could perhaps be expanded. 5: I found them useful, but they were not integrated into the class.

2) Were the course syllabus and other materials distributed in class appropriate and useful (or will they be so in the future, after you return home)?

1: Syllabus was fine. 2: The course syllabus was helpful, but I would have liked handouts with some of the content that was covered. 3: Syllabus was adequate. Many of the scenarios, issues, and examples discussed would have benefitted from illustrative documents. SS shared a proposed job description during a particular discussion that was very helpful – could use more like that. 4: Appropriate. 5: They were appropriate. 6: Yes, and although I was accepted late and had only glanced at the reading list, I know that it will continue to serve as a useful resource.

3) What aspects of the course content were of the greatest interest or relevance for your purposes? Was the intellectual level of the course appropriate?

1: Leadership/management, Friends of the library, Fund-raising/development. 2: I found all the content relevant, and the intellectual level was appropriate. Rather than spend a lot of time on theories we jumped into real-life examples which were very helpful as well as very interesting. 3: Intellectual level was appropriate. Of greatest interest: personnel and technology issues. 4: The shared experiences with participants were very useful. Intellectual level was appropriate. 5: I found the discussions with the group to be most helpful. As for the intellectual level, I felt all of the students were at or beyond the level presented. 6: Great course content all around. The discussions of fund-raising techniques and the visits from W & L and UVa representatives were especially enlightening.

4) If your course left its classroom to visit Special Collections (SC) or to make other field trips away from your classroom, was the time devoted to this purpose well spent?

1: Very well spent. Visit from UVa Special Collections Librarian and Library Development Officer were invaluable. 3: No field trips, although we all participated in the tour of the Small SC library. Might consider including a tour specific for this course with more time for questions and discussions. Guest speakers were a great part of the course and enhanced our discussions. 4: Two visits from outside experts – time well spent. 6: N/A.

5) What did you like best about the course?

1: Variety of institutional backgrounds and personal experiences. 2: The chance to share experiences with other librarians and instructors, and to get their advice was extremely helpful. 3: Small group let us all feel like we could participate more directly in discussions. Sharing insights, experiences, successes and failures – all invaluable. 4: The specific anecdotal experience, and practical suggestions in problem solving. 5: Listening to how the other students dealt with the challenges of their work environments. 6: The convergence of discussion and lecture was perfect. I really loved being open to present issues as they arose, and having the freedom for immediate discussion among the instructors and class members.

6) How could the course have been improved?

1: Distribution of the professors’ notes – even in a outline form, would have helped. 2: Even though we weren’t required to finish the readings before class, an annotated reading list with rankings would have helped. I got into the class late, and there was so much reading that I didn’t know where to begin. 4: The first day was rather general. Perhaps participants could be asked to spend more time describing their library and the specific issues that need to be addressed there. 5: If I were teaching the course I would have taught from a loosely assembled outline that moved from descriptive principle to discussion of “case studies” as a way of asking the students to navigate issues. 6: Hand-outs or take-away pieces might prove handy.

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

1: Yes, both lectures were very interesting and pleasant social events. 2: Yes. I enjoyed Sunday’s lecture and the “Aeon” demonstration. 3: N/A. 4: Evening lectures were good. 6: N/A.

9) Did you get your money’s worth? Any final or summary thoughts, or advice for other persons considering taking this course in a future year?

1: Yes. I would recommend doing as much of the reading as possible. It really enhanced the course once I had arrived. 2: Yes. This was a wonderful course, and I would encourage any Special Collections administrator to attend. 3: Yes. 4: Well worth the commitment. 5: Absolutely, yes. 6: Definitely. I would recommend this course highly to anyone in, or moving into, a leadership position within a library.

Number of respondents: 6

Percentages

Leave Tuition Housing Travel

Institution Institution Institution Institution

gave me leave paid tuition paid housing paid travel

100% 83% 83% 83%

I took vaca- I paid tui- I paid for my I paid my own

tion time tion myself own housing travel

0% 0% 17% 17%

N/A: self- N/A: Self- N/A: stayed N/A: lived

employed, re- employed, with friends nearby

tired, or had retired, or or lived at

summers off scholarship home

0% 17% 0% 0%

There were 4 archivists (67%); and 2 rare book librarians (33%).