23-27 July 2007 in Charlottesville
1) How useful were the pre-course readings?
1: Very – Gaskell [A New Introduction to Bibliography] was dense, and I was in “origami concentration camp” trying to figure out folding formats, but this was really useful. The Latin article was a bit hard if you don’t know Latin, but the article [Transcription of Early Letter Forms in Rare Materials Cataloging] by DJL and Benjamin Griffin was also very helpful. 2: They were invaluable. I didn’t understand everything I read, but when we covered it in class it made sense – it helped not to be introduced to the concepts cold. 3: Gaskell was useful, and the Belanger article [“Descriptive Bibliography,” in Book Collecting] was very useful -- other readings were interesting but did not add much to my understanding of the subject matter or preparation for the class. They were not excessive, however, and I am glad to have them in my reference file. 4: The pre-course readings were very useful. I felt prepared for all the topics we discussed during the week of the course. 5: Somewhat helpful; content “jelled” as we got further into the course, though rather confusing ahead of time. 6: Essential. 7: The pre-course readings were directly relevant, providing helpful background in preparation. 8: Helpful in terms of general background, but a bit too detailed to retain much information on a first reading. I was glad that the essentials were explained in class. 10: Very useful. 11: Essential for a preliminary grounding in course material.
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, in both cases. I particularly appreciated the thoughtful help, i.e. cheat sheets – the MARC formats, letter forms, signature/page counts, &c. They will all be useful in my work. 2: Very useful – they will take a place alongside my most important documentation. 3: Yes; though I found the slide handouts a bit skimpy, and the text too small to read. 4: The materials distributed during class (particularly the cataloging materials) were useful to me in the class, and will help refresh my memory when I return to work. I also appreciated that a cataloging policy was included in the workbook. 5: Very helpful. 6: Yes. 7: The materials received were appropriate and will be very useful to me upon my return to work. 8: Yes – especially the photocopied title pages to records, and many of the notes in the notebook as well. 10: Very much so. 11: Absolutely; a wealth of information to refresh what was learned in the course, and to build on in the future.
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: Pretty much everything was useful. A bit more of machine press would be useful, but considering time constraints I understand the emphasis on handpress. Level of course was very appropriate. 2: The intellectual level was perfect. Learning about the history of the book, and how to do in-depth special collections cataloging was why I came here, and I was not disappointed. 3: Hands-on cataloging was very useful. I appreciated the organization of the course – it made the subject matter easy to follow. I learned much that I will carry back with me to my institution. The intellectual level was on-target for me, not too advanced, not too elementary. 4: Every bit of this course was relevant for my purposes. I found the course to be intellectually stimulating, but thanks to the pre-course readings, not entirely over my head. 5: Analysis of rare book cataloging issues. Level appropriate. 6: Perfect. 8: Archaic letter form transcription, notes, illustration types, and signature statements. Yes. 10: Every single aspect of this class was of great interest to me. I learned a lot about rare book cataloging. The intellectual level was appropriate. 11: Hands-on practice. I found the intellectual level completely 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: Yes – both field trips were relevant, timely, and not boring. Also very on topic. 2: Yes – very good. 3: Yes – the trip to SC was interesting and useful, though I think I would also have liked to actually see more of the collections than just the bit we saw. 4: The field trip to SC was extremely valuable because it gave the class an opportunity to see examples of the concepts we had been discussing in class. 5-6: Yes. 7: Two field trips to SC (one to see collection and one to see cataloging) were both very useful. 8: Yes. 9: The time looking at editions of Pope was well spent. The time visiting the technical services department and looking at machines for collation could have been better spent. 10: We had adequate time allocated for our field trips. 11: Yes, the session with Professor David Vander Meulen was especially illustrative and helpful.
5) What did you like best about the course?
1: Learning cataloging! 2: The balance between lecture and practice was very good. The instructor did a great job of answering questions, and keeping things interesting – it really moved along. 3: The camaraderie among the students – a very pleasant group to be with, and it made learning fun. I credit DJL for encouraging us to socialize together. 4: I liked the practicum because it gave me a chance to apply what I had learned. I also liked DJL, and all my classmates. 5: Knowledgeable instructor with a good sense of humor; never put people down for mistakes, willing to admit own errors and ambiguities in the application of rules. 6: DJL’s knowledge; her down-to-earth personality – refreshing after dealing with previous RBS teacher’s pompous behavior. Being civil and polite is always a good thing. 7: All of the practice, and the chance to go over many, many examples of cataloging. 8: Hands-on practice with the books. 9: The sense of community and support that students and the instructor created, the combination of quick review of rules and hands-on practice, the variety of topics covered. 10: Practicum and hands-on experience. 11: It was good, hard work, and it was fun. I am glad to have met and shared this experience with all my classmates, and, of course, the instructor.
6) How could the course have been improved?
1: Really – I can’t think of a thing. DJL was very responsive to questions and going over things the class was interested in. 2: I can’t think of anything. 3: More practicum would always be welcome. 6: Not enough time to really go into detail. 8: Showing movies right after lunch might not be the best time – its easy to get sleepy; mid-morning might be better. 9: More time on machine press books. 11: Copies of lecture slides were not always handed out before the relevant lecture. Having them would have helped if wanted for note-taking, and/or to give our eyes a break from the screen.
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: Texts were carefully used, and everyone was diligent. DJL stressed careful handling and good practices. 2: I think every reasonable precaution was taken. 6: None. 7: Book snakes could be provided. 8: More handi-wipes! 11: Can’t think of any further suggestions; care was taken to minimize handling.
8) If you attended the Sunday and/or other evening lectures, were they worth attending?
1: Yes – the Monday lecture [by Andrea Immel] was particularly good. 2: Yes. 3: They were pleasant, and offered a chance to meet and greet fellow attendees. I think they are with attending. I didn’t like the lecture too much – I found the analysis a bit far-fetched, but it is always pleasant to sit and listen to someone discourse on interesting things. 4: Absolutely. I met many people Sunday evening, and these were people I spent a great deal of time with outside of class. Also, the tour on Sunday afternoon was nice. 5: Did not attend Sunday lecture. The lecture by Andrea Immel from Princeton was interesting, but I found her argument quite forced 6: N/A. 8: Yes. 9: Some activities were more relevant to some courses than to others; activities were pleasant but somewhat burdensome given the demands of the course. 10: The lectures were very interesting and entertaining. 11: Yes, each in its own way. My favorite was probably museum night
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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 and yes and yes! I would take another class in a minute. If you stay on The Lawn, bring or buy a fan – it really helps. 2: Definitely. The has been the best educational experience of my career – including library school! 3: Yes – I would encourage students not to be shy about talking to their classmates and other RBS participants. I think it is easy to feel lonely during these sessions, especially if you are not outgoing in your personality. Remember that everyone else in your group is likely feeling shy, too. 4: I think this class and experience were wonderful. I have a lot of great information to take back to my institution. 5: Yes. 6: Yes! I definitely got my (institution’s) money’s worth this time. 8: Don’t get too freaked-out about not getting through all the readings, or not understanding everything. 9: Overall, I was very happy and satisfied with the course. 10: Please read the “Required Reading” materials. This way you will come prepared for the course, especially if you haven’t practiced cataloging rare books at your library (or other institution) before. 11: More than my money’s worth! Do as much of the preliminary reading as you can, but don’t feel you have to internalize it all – DJL will help you do that.
Number of respondents: 11
Percentages
Leave Tuition Housing Travel
Institution Institution Institution Institution
gave me leave paid tuition paid housing paid travel
90% 81% 72% 63%
I took vaca- I paid tui- I paid for my I paid my own
tion time tion myself own housing travel
10% 0% 27% 36%
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% 18% 0% 0%
There were 4 rare book librarians (36%), and 7 librarians with some rare book duties (63%).