B-50: Seminar in the History of Bookbinding
8 - 12 October 2007 in Baltimore
1) How useful were the pre-course readings?
1: Extremely useful; some were refreshers. 2: Very useful. 3: Enjoyed one book in particular. 5: Useful, but getting the books was difficult; a review of my notes from the earlier bookbinding course was essential, and helped immeasurably.
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: Yes. 2-5: N/A.
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: Seeing so many high quality examples was of greatest interest and importance. Extremely high intellectual level to this course. 2: Book structure – identification of origin, date; evidence of previous treatment. 3: Mame and Mme de Pompadour. Very appropriate. 4: Viewing so many originals! Yes, appropriate level. 5: Seeing as many rare and fabulous bindings as possible with orienting PowerPoint presentations was wonderful.
4) Was time devoted to studying original materials at WAM or JHU well spent?
1: Yes. 2: Very much. 3: Very well spent. 4: Definitely. 5: Absolutely.
5) What did you like best about the course?
1: JSvL’s enthusiasm and vast knowledge. Also, I felt privileged to be able to examine items from such prestigious collections. 2: The disposition and scholarly attitude of the instructor. 3: JSvL, Mame and Mme de Pompadour. 5: JSvL.
6) How could the course have been improved?
1: A longer session on Friday would have helped. 2: Perhaps the addition of written material, hand-outs, &c. 3: Perhaps only I am interested in later centuries. 4: Evening activities in Travel Guide didn’t match timings in the Vade Mecum (e.g., free night was different.) 5: More time!
7) We are always concerned about the physical well-being both of the RBS teaching collections and of materials owned by our host institutions. If relevant, what suggestions do you have for the improved classroom handling of such materials used in your course this week?
1: Everything was handled with extreme care. 4: Allen baskets for small books. 5: All perfectly handled.
8) If you attended the Sunday reception and/or Monday night lecture, were they worth attending?
1: The Sunday reception should have been much shorter. Perhaps the Sunday reception should only last one hour? 2-4: Yes. 5: Yes, both interesting and fun.
9) If you attended the Wednesday evening tour of JHU’s Peabody Library, was the time profitably spent?
3: Absolutely; loved Jane Eyre! 4: Yes; ditto the WAM tour. 5: Yes, what holdings! What a magnificent space – John Buchtel is a superior guide.
10) 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: More than my money’s worth! 2: Very much. Perhaps consider practical work involved, i.e., create sewing structures, in addition to lectures. 3: Yes; hope JSvL can give a West coast class. 4: Yes. 5: Take the introductory course first. Definitely worth it.
Number of respondents: 5
Percentages
Leave Tuition Housing Travel
Institution Institution Institution Institution
gave me leave paid tuition paid housing paid travel
60% 20% 0% 0%
I took vaca- I paid tui- I paid for my I paid my own
tion time tion myself own housing travel
0% 60% 40% 40%
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
40% 20% 60% 60%
There were 1 rare book librarian (20%); 1 general librarian with some rare book duties (20%); 1 conservator/preservation librarian (20%); 1 antiquarian bookseller (20%); and 1 professional book appraiser (20%).