Deborah J. Leslie

L-30 Rare Book Cataloging

26-30 July 2010

1) How useful were the pre-course readings? (Leave blank if you applied and were accepted late for the course, and thus did not get the list in time.)

1: All pre-course readings were useful and I will refer to them in the future. 2: Excellent. All very helpful in preparing my thoughts, expectations, and questions. 3: Very useful. A bit abstract though, until we started applying them in class examples and practicums. 4: Very useful and highly recommended, especially section on the format even though I've taken the DesBib course. DCRM(B) is not easy to read, but I'm glad I got through it. 5: The pre-course readings were quite useful and relevant to the course. 6: Essentially, with the possible exception of the article on transcription, which was perhaps a bit redundant. 7: Readings were appropriate and on-target. 8: Very useful. 9: They were not especially helpful. I would have preferred to have brought them to RBS unread. 10: Very helpful. It prepared me for this particular course and I'm glad I had enough time to do the readings. 11: They were very useful. While reading them ahead of time, they were confusing, but were all explained throughout the week. 12: The pre-course readings were very useful and will continue to be so long after this class is over.

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 workbook that DJL provided will be really useful in the future because it contains so many examples that I can refer to in conjunction with DCRM(B). 2: Perfect during class and will be at home. 3: Definitely. I expect to use them as reference tools for my work with rare books. 4: Appropriate and highly useful. I made many notes that I will definitely refer to when I get back to work. I probably won't have to reorganize them very much. 5: The course binder contains many useful materials that I will be sharing with colleagues at my institution. 6: Very useful. I will likely have frequent recourse to the workbook upon my return. 7: Materials were exactly what was needed. 8: Yes. I will keep the workbook at my desk. 9: Yes. They were what one would expect. 10: Very useful. 11: Yes, I plan on consulting the text and workbook frequently. 12: Yes, the syllabus was helpful and I am sure I will consult the workbook daily once I get back to work.

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: Going through the requirements of DCRM(B) was of greatest relevance for me. I also found that nearing about the historical context of books/publishing provided me with a greater understanding. 2: Every single session was both interesting and relevant, and the level was just right for me. 3: The sections on transcription and signatures/collation were especially useful. The whole course gave me a better understanding of rare book cataloging—as well as making me more interested in the history of "the book". 4: Learning the differences between AACR2 and DCRM(B) as well as thinking in terms of copy-specific cataloging. Very appropriate intellectual level. 5: The discussions of pre-cataloging decisions and cataloging policies were particularly relevant to me. Everything covered in the course was of value. 6: The sections on publication information and physical description were most helpful to me. The intellectual level was definitely appropriate. 7: It was all interesting/relevant. The course was at the correct intellectual level. 8: Clarification regarding issues in the 245 field. 9: The level was appropriate was appropriate. I found has discussion of examples most helpful. 10: The intellectual level was appropriate. Of great interest were the variety of examples we used. 11: I was most interested in how DCRM(B) varied from AACR2. Also, appropriate note fields were useful. I was able to follow the course without a problem. 12: I can't just pinpoint one aspect. I needed an overview of rare book cataloging with practice and examples that I can consult in the future and that's exactly what I got. I felt the intellectual level of the course and my fellow students was just about perfect.

4) What did you like best about the course?

1: I liked the hands-on parts of the course that accompanied the lectures. 2: The content but also the very positive welcoming tone set by the instructor and the community in our class and with others at Dinsmore and the staff. 3: Demonstration of the hand-press, and hands-on experience pulling the frisket. 4: The hands-on exercises. 5: The hands-on cataloging practice with RBS materials really helped to cement the learning. I found the discussions during and afterwards to be very informative. 6: The hands-on exercises. 7: Practice/feedback. 8: Class discussions. 9: The knowledge and experience of the instructor. 10: That we got to use the rare books collection, and not only the facsimile. 11: I learned to much! I actually can't wait to get back and catalog. Everything was presented well and I really feel like this was the best professional development I've ever had. 12: I like the practice exercises and our discussions concerning them the most.

5) Did the instructor(s) successfully help you to acquire the information and skills that the course was intended to convey?

1: Overall yes, though there were some areas I wish she'd spent more time on and less on others. 2: Absolutely. I got exactly what I'd hoped for and feel better prepared to execute my responsibilities and help create new policy. 3-4: Yes. 5: She conveyed a great deal of information in a clear and concise way. These skills will be immediately useful to my work. 6: Yes. 7: Lectures were clear and easy to grasp. 8: Yes—available for help when asked. 9: My skills improved significantly. 10: Very much so. 11: Yes. If there were questions, DJL did a great job of explaining. 12: Yes. Absolutely.

6) Did you learn what the course description/advertisements indicated you would learn?

1-12: Yes.

7) Did you learn what you wanted to learn in the course?

1-6: Yes. 7: Yes. 8-10: Yes. 11: Yes. And more. 12: Yes.

8) How do you intend to use or apply the knowledge or skills learned in this course?

1: I intend to apply the knowledge I've learned to fulfill my RB cataloging responsibilities. 2: It's my job! Before I was 40% cataloging. Next week I will be 80% cataloging. 3: In cataloging rare books back at my institution, as well as in developing rare book cataloging policies and workflows. 4: I will improve existing cataloging, catalog newly acquired material, and develop a rare book policy. 5: I will be cataloging more rare materials at work, and with increased knowledge and confidences. 6: In every day cataloging practice and as background when it comes time to write a rare book cataloging policy. 7: Help develop policies at my institution to catalog different classes of materials. 8: To improve my cataloging skills. 9: I will use it in determining cataloging policy at my institution. 10: Definitely my work from now on is going to be improved. I am more confident now with my newly acquired skills. 11: I know I will use this every day! I also plan on having conversations with our special collections department regarding policy, what they want, &c. 12: I plan on revisiting our cataloging practices and procedures and making necessary changes based on what I learned.

9) How could the course have been improved? If you have a suggestion for a new course (and—equally important—a person who could teach it), please contact the RBS Program Director.

1: More hands-on accompanying the lectures. 2: It was so good I can't even imagine anything, but if I do I will be in touch. 3: Maybe a bit more "hands on" experience between lectures to reinforce certain practices or point covered in lectures. 4: N/A. 6: The videos should be made part of the pre-course "reading," since there wasn't enough time to watch them in class and watching them in the evening left no time for other activities. Also, more practical exercises and less lecture time would be desirable. 7: Non-public. 8: Use class time for movies, spend less time on Latin. 9: Discussion on our institutions was unfocused. I would have preferred discussion of our cataloging needs. 10: More examples and more group work. 11: I know time was tight, but more practice exercises split up between lectures. 12: Even more practice/examples. The ability to watch the movies before the course instead of on Movie Night.

10) 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: I really enjoyed the field trips. The print demonstration provided me with a better understanding of format. 2: Yes indeed. Much learned, nice to be in a different space, see additional materials and hear another rare books voice 3: Yes. The trip to Special Collections was my second favorite (after the printing press demo). 4: Yes, I enjoyed our visit to Special Collections. The examples we saw were of high interest. 5: Definitely! 6: Yes. 7: Very well spent. 8: Yes—interesting demo. 9: No. we could have learned the same lesson more efficiently, even without going to Special Collections. 10: Yes. I have enjoyed the visit to Special Collection Library. I have greatly enjoyed working with the hand press, a unique experience indeed. 11: Yes, definitely. 12: Definitely. It's always great to see examples in the field.

11) 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: I'm not sure if anything can be done about this, but the desk space is quite small to hold the workbook, DCRM(B) and the books we're examining. It would be easier to handle the books safely if we didn't have so much other stuff around them. 2: No suggestion. We were pretty knowledgeable and careful. 4: N/A. 6: None at this point. 8: N/A. 9: Replace the duct tape. 10: No. 11: N/A 12: None. We were well prepared.

12) If you attended the optional evening events (e.g. RBS Lecture, Video Night, RBS Forum, Booksellers' Night) were they worth attending?

2: Attended all. Booksellers' Night I could have skipped. The first three were excellent and added facets to may understanding of rare books issues. 3: Yes. 4: Greatly enjoyed both lectures. 5: All of them were excellent. 6: Very much so—part of the pleasure of RBS are its "extra-curricular" enhancements! 7: Very worth attending. 8: N/A. 9: Yes, they were worth attending. 10: I did attend, but I found the Video Night held very late. I would have liked it to be earlier, at about 5:30. 11: Yes. 12: The lecture was fascinating. Bookseller's Night seemed to be less of an event than I anticipated but it was nice to go downtown after spending so much time on the school grounds.

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

1: I feel that I did get my money's worth. I definitely feel more confident in my understanding of the specific requirements of RB cataloging, as well as it was actually a surprisingly fun week. 2: Got money's worth! Anyone who is considering this should do it!! 3: This was a very worthwhile experience, expanding my knowledge of cataloging and interest in book history. DJL is a very knowledgeable and experienced instructor, with an amazing wealth of knowledge on rare book cataloging. 4: Yes, thank you! 6: Absolutely. 7: Money well spent. 8: Yes, I feel more confident in my cataloging. 9: Yes, my cataloging was improved. 10: I definitely did my institution's money worth, and I will recommend the RBS courses to anyone who's interested in rare books. 11: Definitely. And it's really hot on the lawn, but you might get used to it. 12: Absolutely. This has been one of the most enriching and useful courses I've ever taken.

Number of respondents: 12

PERCENTAGES

Leave

Institution gave me leave

100%

I took vacation time

N/A: self-employed, retired or had the summers off

Tuition

Institution paid tuition

92%

I paid tuition myself

N/A: Self-employed, retired or scholarship

Housing

Institution paid housing

76%

Institution paid for ___% of housing

I paid for my own housing

N/A: stayed with friends or lived at home

Travel

Institution paid travel

76%

Institution paid ___% of my travel

I paid my own travel

N/A: lived nearby

There were three general librarians with some rare book duties (25%), eight rare book librarians (67%) (one of them had cataloging duties), and one was a cataloger (8%).