7-11 July 2008

1) How useful were the pre-course readings?

1: The pre-course readings were useful, if voluminous. 2: The readings were very helpful in setting the background to a course that covered a great deal of material. 3: Very good! 4: The readings were extremely helpful in providing the lay of the land. While difficult reading, the Eisenstein book [The Printing Revolution in Early Modern Europe] really provided a powerful presentation of the import of the printed word in the early modern world. 5: Excellent. They were a fine overview for a course that covers over 1800 years. 6: Good. They were dated; there could have been more on current trends in the readings. 7: The readings were very outstanding preparation for the course, and now I want to read more on the list. 8: I enjoyed most of the readings, and learned a lot from all of them. Having read them was very important to my ability to get the most out of the class. If everything I heard in class had been new to me, I would have been completely overwhelmed. With the introduction provided by the readings, I was able to focus on what was unique, better expressed, or better contextualized in class. 9: The pre-course readings were very relevant and useful. They gave good background and context to the classes; one should complete as much as possible in advance to get the most out of the class. 10: Superb reading list. It really set the stage for understanding book basics. I especially liked the dense Eisenstein. I wish that I had time to get through even some of the recommended reading. But I can do that now post-course. And maybe I’ll even understand some of it! 11: They would have been more helpful if the instructors had built upon information from the start, rather than repeating what the texts said. 12: Helpful, but I did not have the time to get through all of them before class started.

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: The materials will be very useful upon returning to work and school. 2: Everything distributed was extremely helpful, and will be in the future when I return to my institution. The additional reading list is fantastic. Thank you! 3: Yes, I will need all of it! 4: The syllabus, materials, and especially the notebook were a godsend. I have no doubt that the materials in the notebook will be ones I frequently re-visit and re-use. 5: Yes. 6: Disorganized. They were available in .pdf beforehand. Chapters would help. 7: The materials were useful, especially the book lists of what we had viewed and talked about. 8: I’ll definitely be going back to the bibliography and the printouts from Printing and the Mind of Man again and again, to remember all the things I’ve seen. The PMM text seemed a bit too much detail before seeing the books. 9: All distributed materials were useful and helpful to review what was covered in class at the end of the day, and I expect that they will continue to be useful. 10: Absolutely. I look forward to reading the handouts en route home. 11: Yes. 12: Yes, I appreciated having something to read later with additional explanations.

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: The intellectual level was very appropriate. 2: Everything was relevant; even if I will not be working with cuneiform tablets, starting at the beginning set the context for everything that followed. I very much appreciated the instructor’s delivery of the material, given the variety of student backgrounds, no one was ever made to feel dumb. 3: The intellectual level was what I expected. I could not find fault with the material. I was least interested in c20. 4: I was most interested in both the impact of printing on periods such as the Renaissance and Reformation, but also the technical progression in fields such as printing and illustration. 5: The physical object being touched and viewed. This aspect of RBS is not only unique but the secret of its success (in addition to fine faculty). 6: All content was relevant. The intellectual level was high. 7: Everything was relevant, as our collection dates from 1523 to the present. Though we don’t have earlier things, the opportunity may arrive for earlier materials. The intellectual level was spot on for all students, I feel. 8: The course provided a great foundation for future studies in such work-related needs as rare book cataloguing. The level was challenging but accessible. 9: The course gave context to me in which to place my collections and an understanding of significance of some of my materials. The survey history of the book was generally useful 10: The intellectual level was perfect. It was a sound, seemingly all-inclusive survey, all of which seemed relevant to me, a total amateur at the outset. The fact that virtually every aspect of what was taught was done by way of demonstration, or passing around books or samples, or visiting Special Collections to see examples, &c. made it so much easier to take in and retain. 11: Yes. 12: The general history of the book, major titles, developments in book history, how the book influenced and as influenced by culture, and the introduction of various reference sources were all of great interest to me. Yes, the intellectual level of the course was appropriate.

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. 2: Yes, it is very essential to see these extraordinary examples. The trip to the Library of Congress (LC) was once-in-a-lifetime. 3: Outstanding!! 4: The trip to LC was the most special of the week. The ride up allowed us to bond more closely together, and, of course, the opportunity to encounter first-hand some of the most significant, beautiful, and rare books in the Western canon will be an experience I never forget. 5: It was very well spent time to view rare book materials. 6: Yes. I think that we should leave earlier for LC. 7: The field trip to LC was extraordinary. It was like taking a trip to Mecca with the gods. 8: The Special Collections sessions were great, and we saw so many wonderful things that put a “face” on the discussions. The trip to LC was fabulous beyond all measure. 9: The visits to SC (daily) and LC were invaluable to see examples of what was discussed in class and discussed in the books. 10: Yes yes yes. These were some of the best parts of the day (SC and LC visits). 11: Yes. 12: Yes, I really appreciated the opportunity to visit LC and to see materials I had never seen before. MD and JB’s explanations were complete and very well done. MD kindly took requests for things we wanted to see, and even adjusted his lesson plan to do so.

5) What did you like best about the course?

1: MD is the bee’s knees. 2: The enthusiasm and experience of the teachers. 3: The instructors are the best I’ve had the pleasure to be around! They made the course so interesting that I could not ask for more. Also, they worked extremely well together. 4: JB and MD are wonderful teachers and interesting people. They are extremely knowledgeable, passionate, articulate, and simply excellent teachers. The tactile nature of this course is a design that is well-suited to both comprehending and appreciating the complicated and important story of the book. I really wouldn’t change a thing. 5: The physical objects at UVa and LC. 6: Primary source material. 7: MD and JB. 8: The chance to see, touch (in most cases) and study real things makes a huge difference. So many things in the readings were unclear to me, even with illustrations, that are so much more understandable now. 9: I liked MD, JB, real live books, hands on examples from cuneiform to CDs, using a printing press, and the fellow students. 10: The professors’ grasp of the material is staggeringly complete. They were confident, informative, and entertaining all at once. Even heinous topics (to me) like mechanical printing processes were made clear by way of demonstration, videos, passing around tools and sample plates, &c. The magnitude and breadth of teaching materials, coupled with the exceptional quality of MD and JB’s presentations made it an unbeatable, virtually un-improvable experience. A+ to the whole experience! 11: Seeing the books. 12: I thought MD and JB were knowledgeable and obviously experts in their field. But I was equally impressed with their efforts to make the class enjoyable and interesting. I was also impressed with how they always took the time to answer our questions completely. They also explained things again if we needed them to. They were gracious and seemed to really care whether or not we enjoyed the class and were learning.

6) How could the course have been improved?

1: It could be two weeks instead of one. 2: Allowing a question and answer period at the end. Otherwise, no improvement needed. 4: Perhaps spend a bit more time on c20 and the future of the book, but again, it would be hard to improve upon this course given the time restraints. 5: Perhaps give less on printing technology or relate it more closely to book production and the impact of the book. Use Eisenstein themes as context. Is more possible on the culture of the book in addition to the book as physical object? Perhaps time limits the range of topics. 7: I don’t know what to say – it’s the gold standard as is! 8: No need to improve anything. 9: I have very little to suggest, except a book with “Rivers” next to the Rogers table. 10: Not possible. 12: If you do another field trip you might want to consider three vans instead of two vans and a car.

7) We are always concerned about the physical well-being both of the RBS 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?

1-3: None. 4: The instructions from the outset were clear and regularly repeated. No suggestions. 5: 10-15 minutes on how to handle a book that we do not hold. Some will hold/use similar materials. 7: Professional handling of materials at all times I’d say! 8: Handling rules were well explained and gently enforced in class. I saw no problems that weren’t quickly corrected. 9: The materials seemed to be well handled by instructors and students. Early admonishments were heeded by the students. 10: The staff and class were extremely careful and respectful of the materials. No alteration to current practice seems necessary. 12: None, the instructors were able to explain how to handle items and many of us have special collections experience.

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

1: Yes, all events are worth attending as the RBS experience is enriched by them. 2: The lectures were useful and helped to integrate you into the RBS community. 3: Did not attend. 4: I attended the Monday lecture on maps [No. 509] and the movie night/Audubon demonstration by TB, both of which added to the diversity and depth of the experience. 5-6: Yes. 7: Yes! 8: Very worthwhile. The video was interesting (on NYC street booksellers). The Audubon presentation that TB gave was fascinating. 9: I missed the Wednesday lecture, but enjoyed the Alice Hudson lecture (which supplemented what we saw at the LC). Book Wars was interesting, but I enjoyed the audience reaction rather more than the film. 10: Yes, all of the extracurricular events were fun and helpful, lively and engaging. 11: Yes.

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: Heck yes, don’t even hesitate for a second. This course is great and provides a good foundation for all other RBS courses! 2: I definitely got my money’s worth! Advice: it’s worth doing the reading in advance. You will see plenty of examples during the course. 3: I got my money’s worth and more! You should only be lucky enough to attend. 4: Absolutely! If you, like me, are interested in print culture and/or the significance of the book, I can think of no better place to begin. This has been one of the top few courses I have ever taken, at any level! 5: The professors are excellent. The rest of the staff was very helpful. Kudos to Barbara and Tess for our group. 6: Yes. 7: This course was an intellectual and financial bargain. 8: Absolutely worth the cost. The only advice would be to be sure to do the readings, as arduous as they can get, since you’ll get so much more out of the class then. 9: Definitely! I learned a lot – it should be required for everyone working in a library, archives, historical society, or museum, regardless of what each collects. Thank you everyone at RBS! 10: I shouldn’t say this but I found the experience a bargain! You could charge triple and it would be worth it. 11: Yes. 12: Although the price is high, I feel that I did learn a lot and that I got my money’s worth. Thank you.

Number of respondents: 12

PERCENTAGES

Leave Tuition Housing Travel

Institution Institution Institution Institution
gave me leave paid tuition paid housing paid travel

50% 67% 67% 58%

I took vaca- I paid tui- I paid for my I paid my own
tion time tion myself own housing travel

8% 25% 33% 42%

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

42% 8% 0% 0%

There were 2 archivist/manuscript librarians (17%); 3 general librarians with some rare book duties (25%); 1 teacher/professor (8%); 2 full-time students (17%); 1 antiquarian bookseller (8%); 1 retired (8%); 1 independent scholar (8%); and 1 auction house worker (8%).