Jan Storm van Leeuwen
B-10: Introduction to the History of Bookbinding
8–12 July 2013
Detailed Course Evaluation
1) How useful were the pre-course readings? Did you do any additional preparations in advance of the course?
1: Very useful, and I’m looking forward to returning to them again after the class. 2: Very helpful to provide context—course was dense, so reading ahead helped immensely. 3: After having taken the class, they were very useful. While I was preparing for the class it was a lot of information to process without a clear idea of how it all connected. 4: Excellent, though finding some was difficult. 5: VERY useful for familiarizing with the material. I got a lot more out of the lectures for having read the reference books first. I was unable to locate a number of them but will try to track them down in future. In place, I read other books by authors on the list such as Mirjam Foote and also Julia Miller, and these were helpful too. 6: Hopefully JSvL will complete his book soon because there doesn’t yet exist a solid, comprehensive overview. Materials were difficult to locate, but of those I did, I enjoyed and found useful. 7: Pre-course readings were very helpful for background, though a bit too many. The Goldshmidt two volume work was less useful, the Parson and Locke excellent. 8: They were very useful, I also read as much as I could find on the internet! 9: Highly recommended, though some were difficult to get a hold of (i.e., quite useful). 10: Very relevant. 11: I did not read. 12: Extremely useful, but extremely difficult to come by. 13: Very useful for the most part. The list could be shortened. 14: I found the books on the list to provide very useful context and grounding. 15: The readings were good as a preparation.
2) Were the course workbook and other materials distributed in class appropriate and useful (or will they be so in the future, after you return home)?
1: Very much so. 2: Yes—looking forward to integrating my own notes into workbook. 3: Yes. Very helpful. 4: Yes—I only wished for more, and if possible, with illustrations interspersed throughout text rather than separate. 5: Yes, very much so. Especially appreciated the expanded reference list and the TIMELINE—I would like it if this were even more developed, and perhaps in a fold-out format for display and future reference. 6: Yes, very useful and I will re-read the workbook materials many times. 7: The workbook will be a great reference for future; if possible, it would be helpful to have it to read before coming to Charlottesville (online?). 8: Yes, I will be taking all of it home with me. 9: It would have been useful to have illustrations in color. I haven’t read all of it in detail, but it will be useful when returning home. I particularly like the timeline. 10: Yes. It would be nice if we could get some kind of access to the PowerPoint presentations we saw. 11: Yes, but pictures should have been in color or on web. 12: Yes. 13: Will be more useful in the future than they were during the week. 14: Yes; I will certainly keep this workbook as a reference. Having an online PDF—for color photos—would also be useful. 15: The workbook is the best.
3) Have you taken one or more RBS courses before? If so, how did this course compare with your previous coursework?
1: Yes (three previous). All have been excellent—this is certainly near the top of the list. 2–3: N/A. 4: I have taken previous courses so far and loved each one—couldn’t possibly choose. 5: No, this is my first. 6: Yes; as with my other RBS courses, there was a much appreciated balance of comprehensive overview for fundamentals and exposure to higher level analysis for additional consideration. 7: First course. 8: This was my first class, but I hope not my last. 9: This was my first course. 10: Less work, since the only other course I’ve had here is Advanced DesBib. 11: Usual highest standard of instruction. 12: Yes—very much of the highest quality—i.e., up there with the best of them. 13: Yes (three). All were excellent but none were better. 14: In my experience, this class was of the highest quality. 15: This course rates high among the other three classes I’ve taken at RBS.
4) What aspects of the course content were of the greatest interest or relevance for your purposes?
1: General overview of the topic and American bindings in general—publishers’ bindings of the c19 were where I was most at sea so the time spent on that was very helpful. 2: Binding materials and styles of early printed books. Publisher’s bindings in c19 and c20. 3: Descriptions of binding structures and materials, and late c19 and early c20 trade bindings. 4: The c17 and c18 review will prove most useful to me, only because of my work. 5: The evolution of binding structure and style, how to identify bindings by period or country, and discussion of the material construction and fabrication of the books. 6: Greatest interest: understanding materials and design; greatest relevance: same as above, and to that I would also add learning about care and conservation. 7: Understanding decorative styles and binding materials by country and period. 8: I really enjoyed the hands-on part, but I needed JSvL’s lectures to understand what I was seeing. 9: The identification of style differences in binding in different times and countries. 10: Learning about features of bookbindings for identification and description purposes, as well as general history to complement knowledge of printing practices. 11: Vast number of actual books to see. 12: Materials (in general), c19 and c20 bindings, and publishers’ bindings. 13: Identification of binding structures and styles. 14: The general contours of the history of bookbinding, as well as the process of (beginning) identification and description. 15: I want to know what scholars and bibliographers value in a book so that I can think and plan my conservation treatments.
5) Did the instructor(s) successfully help you to acquire the information, knowledge, and skills that the course was intended to convey? Was the intellectual level of the course appropriate?
1: Yes. Very good. 2: Yes—yes. 3: Yes. 4: JSvL’s teaching style is wonderfully engaging and comprehensive. 5: Yes. YES! For me it was the perfect level of information—enough that I was already familiar with to provide a great jumping off point—and a wealth of new information that I was then able to add to my understanding. 6: Absolutely, to both questions. A tremendous amount of information was given; we learned skills to identify issues and trends for further future study and for re-reading materials covered in the coursework. 7: YES, though as a broad survey and introduction of what to look for, there was almost too much information. JSvL did a brilliant job of presenting this vast information. 8: Yes, and yes. Prior to the class I was concerned it would be very much above my head but that was not the case. I think JSvL was so competent that he could work on any level. 9: Yes, and yes. 10–11: Yes. 12–13: Yes, and yes. 14: Yes, I believe so. 15: Yes, and yes.
6) What did you like best about the course?
1: JSvL is excellent—what a mind, what good stories, what a range of knowledge and experience. And getting to see such a huge range of material is excellent. 2: JSvL—his expertise in this field seems unparalleled, and his enthusiasm also makes him an engaging instructor. 3: How many examples were made available to us, both in Alderman and in SC. 4: Believe I finally have a BIG PICTURE of binding styles. 5: Jan Storm van Leeuwen! 6: JSvL, of course. He is indeed one of the extraordinary “treasures” of RBS. 7: Working, sometimes in small groups, with individual books to understand the materials, decorative elements; JSvL’s explanations of the items on the display tables; leather identification “quiz;” and JSvL’s engaging stories and lectures. 8: I really enjoyed all the lectures, the show and tell, the movies, the other students—I even liked the coffee! 9: JSvL was the best part of this course. His humor and enthusiastic manner rubbed off on all of us. 10: Seeing fine bindings from the SC. 11: JSvL. 12: JSvL. Dee-LIGHT-ful. 13: Seeing the bespoke decorated bindings in SC. 14: Interactions with JSvL—the opportunity to learn from his experience and perspective. 15: JSvL’s explained very well each aspect of bookbinding history. He did not tire but got energetic as time passed. We asked questions and he didn’t mind the interruptions.
7) How could the course have been improved?
1: While seeing so much is great, it might be possible to trim it a bit so we don’t have to feel quite so rushed all the time. I felt like we were zooming too fast on occasion. 2: Wish it was two weeks. 3: It would be helpful to have a list of the different design movements and what elements are typical to them—would help clarify differences between similar styles. 4: There is so much material to be covered—since many people’s work specialties are broken down by time period I wonder if 0—1699, 1700—2000 (or some such) might be better? One really needs longer… 5: More time after lectures on each topic, to look at and handle the teaching materials on the display tables, please. We always felt pressed for time to examine the books—rushing before or after break. 6: I would only have liked to have had more time! Another week would be useful. 7: Less time on chronological PowerPoint and more time with book examples; fewer items on example tables so we can spend more time with items. 8: I do not think I can answer this. I would have enjoyed another day! 9: Nothing comes to mind. 10: I know there is a lot of ground to cover in the course, but the amount of PowerPoint time was a bit overwhelming to the eyes. 12: As with most RBS classes, too much material, too little time. I advocate shorter breaks, shorter lunches, and chaining all faculty to their lecterns. Also eliminating bathroom breaks for followers. 13: Focus the preliminary readings more closely on the material covered during the week. 14: I loved seeing the wide array of bindings but would have appreciated slightly more time built in to examine the examples. 15: Flow chart? Timeline based on binding types—one is in workbook but not too detailed about binding types (especially publishers’ bindings).
8) Did you learn what the course description/advertisement indicated you would learn? Additional comments optional. Y/N
1–8: Yes. I feel very good about what I learned. I think I learned something new about every 30 seconds. 9–15: Yes.
9) Did you learn what you wanted in the course? Additional comments optional. Y/N
1: Yes. 2: Yes. Will refer to workbook for material not covered due to time constraints. 3: Yes. 4: I’m still shaky. 5: Yes, exactly. 6–7: Yes. 8: Yes. Absolutely. Would have liked one more day! 9–13: Yes. 14: Yes. I hope to attend the description course to advance my knowledge. 15: Yes.
10) How do you intend to use or apply the knowledge or skills learned in this course?
1: Will be extremely useful to me as I continue to work in the field, and also now I have a sense of some of the types of things RBS lacks and would like to add to the collections! 2: Better understanding of how history of bookbinding relates to trade today—now can identify different bindings, styles, materials, sewing structures, &c. 3: I plan on assisting my institution’s special collection’s department in some upcoming projects. 4: The c18 breakdown of stamps, &c. will prove very, very, very useful in zeroing in on provenance issues, I will be using the subject matter every day! 5: This will help me as a conservator to better recognize books that I am treating and to therefore apply the appropriate treatments and materials. 6: With this course I’ll be able to improve my skills of discrimination and understanding in collecting. 7: To inform conservation treatment descriptions and decisions. 8: As a collector I found this topic so interesting and am already thinking how I can improve my collection. 9: I intend to better assist researchers in the reading room and faculty who bring their courses to my library. I also hope to improve catalog descriptions of some items (or help create them if they do not exist). 10: Rare book cataloguing. 11: In evaluating collections that I buy. 13: To identify bindings in my library’s collection, to put up exhibits, and in teaching book history. 14: My experience in the course will add to my work with my institutional collection and will particularly inform my instruction. 15: Every year I come to RBS I learn what is important or what to consider about a book. These ideas help me plan my conservation treatments.
11) If your course left its classroom, was the time devoted to this purpose well spent?
1: SC visit was excellent. Thanks to Gayle and Patrina for managing it so ably and graciously. 2: Yes! SC viewing was amazing. 3: Absolutely. The time we spent in SC was fantastic. 4: our time in the SC was highly educational! 5: Definitely—SC visit was invaluable. 6: SC time is always a wonderful treat, and is always time well-spent. 7: Yes—SC time was amazing. 8: N/A. 9: Our three sessions in SC were jam-packed, but very well spent—seeing original bindings was essential. 10: SC, so yes. 11: Wonderful to SC. 12: SC—terrific. 13: Yes. 14: Absolutely. 15: Yes.
12) If you attended the evening events (e.g., RBS Lecture, Video Night, RBS Forum, Booksellers’ Night) were they worth attending?
1: Lectures were interesting though the Wednesday talk I found quite inaccurate. Booksellers’ Night always a delight. 2: Yes—Video Night on bookbindings was interesting and related to course. 3: They were fun, but were sometimes outside of my area of interest. 4: Over the years, some of the lectures have been less than stimulating but some have been excellent. Such is life. 5: Yes, definitely. 6: Yes, and I attended all of them. Video Night was particularly good this week. 7: Very much so—enjoyed the lectures and the social gatherings afterwards. 8: Yes, very informative and great people within the class. 9: Yes, though I enjoyed the Video and Booksellers’ Night more than the lectures, which seemed quite specialized and not as thought provoking as I had hoped. 10: Yes. 11: Yes, fun. 12: Skipped most this time—body and brain needed rest—and review time, instead. 13: Yes—lecture. 14: I found the after-hours events (particularly the second lecture) to be very valuable. 15: Yes—kind of.
13) 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: For the Friday morning exercises some baskets and foams would have been handy. 2: Emphasis on hand-washing is helpful—no drinks or pens, &c. 3: Gloves and rests might mitigate any damage that might occur. 4: It all seemed fine. 5: Maybe a quick demo at the beginning of how to properly and carefully hold and open books—I noticed some heavy hands… 6: See note above re-stabilizing temperature in classroom. 7: We didn’t do a lot of handling of books from example tables, but when we worked in small groups and handled books extensively, we were clean and careful, so no improvement suggestions. 8: I have none. 9: No suggestions. 10: Everything was handled well. 12: A brief lesson on Monday morning on how to handle books would be good. 14: None. 15: None.
14) Did you (or your institution) get your money’s worth? Would you recommend this course to others?
1: Certainly, yes. 2: Yes! Yes! I would take this course again if I could (or at least, maybe the advanced seminar). 3: Definitely. 4: Indeed I would! 5: Definitely. Worth every penny, and I fully intend to return for more classes on my own money. I TRULY appreciate the scholarship I received in order to attend—this experience was transformational. 6: Absolutely, and yes, I would, will, and do highly recommend it to others. 7: Yes, and yes. 8: Resounding yes, I want to pay today for next year! Best week of vacation I have spent in a very long time. 9: Yes, if you can take this or any course with JSvL—do not hesitate! 10–11: Yes. 12: Yes, and yes. 13: Yes. I would definitely recommend it. 14: Yes. 15: I always recommend an RBS course where I work. RBS is worth the time and money.
15) Any final or summary thoughts, or advice for other persons considering taking this course in a future year? (If you have further praise/concerns, please speak with Amanda Nelsen or Michael Suarez.)
2: JSvL colors his lectures with interesting stories from his books, his career, and his own life—this made learning the material easier, and made the course more practical, more memorable, and more “human.” 4: Run don’t walk to sign up. Even though it is challenging material to absorb, the overview provides an excellent framework from which to start learning. 5: PEASE Please have JSvL back to teach his advanced seminar again soon, while he is able. I will be first in line to apply!! 6: Come as prepared as you can, and enjoy. 7: JSvL is a treasure in the book world. I learned so much from this great scholar, enjoyed being in his company, and highly recommend the course. 9: I hope to have an opportunity to take another of JSvL’s courses soon! 12: N/A. 13: A separate course on publishers’ bindings would be good. 14: One book not on the advance reading list which I also read and found very valuable (and which, in fact, Jan referred to several times in our lectures) is J. A. Szirmai’s Archeology of Medieval Bookbinding. 15: Leave your ego at home. Learn with an open mind, ask real questions and stop pointing at yourself. Digital camera is a plus, but ask first.
Aggregate Statistics
Number of respondents: 15
Leave
Institution gave me leave: 6 (40%)
I took vacation time: 4 (27%)
N/A: self-employed, retired, or had summers off: 5 (33%)
Tuition
Institution paid tuition: 4 (27%)
I paid tuition myself: 8 (53%)
N/A: self-employed, retired, or scholarship: 3 (20%)
Housing
Institution paid housing: 2 (13%)
I paid for my own housing: 11 (74%)
N/A: stayed with friends or lived at home: 2 (13%)
Travel
Institution paid travel: 4 (27%)
I paid my own travel: 9 (60%)
N/A: lived nearby: 2 (13%)
Which one category most closely defines what you do for a living, or why you are at RBS? (Please check only one category)
Antiquarian bookseller: 3 (19%)
Book collector: 1 (7%)
Cataloguer, rare music: 1 (7%)
Conservator/binder/preservation librarian: 3 (19%)
Librarian with some rare book duties: 1 (7%)
Library assistant/clerk: 1 (7%)
Library/University Administrator: 1 (7%)
Rare book librarian: 2 (13%)
Hotel general manager: 1 (7%)
Recent M.L.I.S. grad: 1 (7%)
How did you hear about this course?
RBS website: 4 (27%)
RBS printed schedule: 1 (7%)
Work colleague: 2 (13%)
Word of mouth: 3 (19%)
RBS faculty or staff recommendation: 2 (13%)
UVA website: 1 (7%)
Attended past course: 1 (7%)
Former Columbia grad student: 1 (7%)