Deborah J. Leslie
L-35: Advanced Rare Book Cataloging
28 October–1 November 2013
Detailed Course Evaluation
1) How useful were the pre-course readings? Did you do any additional preparations in advance of the course?
1: The readings were useful for the topic, but I wish we had discussed them more, especially Tanselle’s articles. 2: They were good, but unfortunately all optional. 3: Somewhat useful. 4: There weren’t really any pre-course readings, and I would have liked some. The prep homework was useful. 5: Pre-course readings were recommended, but not required. I completed most of the recommended readings, and found it to be enriching. We did not discuss the readings. I prepared myself by doing lots of DCRM(B) example cataloging prior to class, which helped me to brush up on the basics of the rules, and heightened my confidence.
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: The printed catalog records will be very useful. 2: No workbook (maybe there should have been). 3: There was no workbook. 4: Initially there weren’t any handouts or work book, but once we started to print and take notes on each other’s records that was very useful. I will turn back to those corrected examples in the future! 5: N/A.
3) Have you taken one or more RBS courses before? If so, how did this course compare with your previous coursework?
1: Yes. Both courses were excellent. 3: I realize that this was the first time this course was taught, so it was a bit unorganized, especially at first. I was surprised the agenda was not more thought-out beforehand. 4: I took the regular Rare book cataloging course. This was much more loosely organized, which allowed for more in-depth discussion. 5: I have also completed the first Rare Book Cataloging course, which required much more outside homework.
4) What aspects of the course content were of the greatest interest or relevance for your purposes?
2: Practice cataloging older books. 3: Being able to confer with other catalogers, discuss rules, policies, resources, &c. 4: Spending time in the Folger was incredible! Handling their materials, and cataloging and correcting as a group was extremely informative. 5: I found the discussion of different catalogers’ approaches to pre-cataloging decisions to be especially helpful. Discussion of choices in general was incredibly beneficial.
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?
2: Appropriate feedback helped enhance my skills. 4: Yes, DJL is an extremely talented cataloger and I learned so much from watching her cataloging process and working through complicated problems as a group. 5: The first few days seemed disjointed and almost meandering, with little discussion across the table. However, as the week progressed, a natural pattern and order, as well as dialogue, emerged.
6) What did you like best about the course?
1: Hands-on rare book cataloging. Very excited to have records in Hamnet! 2–3: See number four. 4: Cataloging unique materials, reviewing records together with DJL, and our field trip to LC. 5: Discussion of everyone’s work, choices made, best practices, policy importance.
7) How could the course have been improved?
1: A more structured day—possibly all students working on the same type of material each day. More varied types of material as well. 2: Clearer organization and better planned use of time. 3: Technology problems plagued the first 2 days. I was very surprised these bugs had not been checked before class. 4: Technology was a HUGE problem. The projection set up should have been ready before the course. Having the class in a computer lab would be helpful. 5: There needed to be a syllabus, with some ordering of our week. It would have been helpful to have had a basic review and discussion on the first day.
8) Did you learn what the course description/advertisement indicated you would learn? Additional comments optional. Y/N
1–4: Yes. 5: Yes. I definitely advanced in my ability in part because I had perhaps the least amount of previous experience. I expected to work with more problematic material.
9) Did you learn what you wanted in the course? Additional comments optional. Y/N
1–3: Yes. 4: Yes. 5: Yes. But I think there is room for this course to go further into depth for future classes.
10) How do you intend to use or apply the knowledge or skills learned in this course?
2: Soon I will be cataloging older materials. 3: In my full time job. 4: Catalog more rare material with confidence and sleakness! 5: This will all apply directly to my everyday work, and the discussion and opinions of my peers and DJL is absolutely invaluable.
11) If your course left its classroom, was the time devoted to this purpose well spent?
1: Yes, our trip to LC was amazing and taught me more about the history of the book. 2: N/A. 3: The tour of the Folger was great. 4: Yes—LC with Mark Dimunation (MD) was a once-in-a-lifetime experience! 5: Yes…a visit with MD at the LC was one early highlight of the week.
12) If you attended the evening events (e.g., RBS Lecture, Video Night, RBS Forum, Booksellers’ Night) were they worth attending?
2: Very much so. 3: Visit to LC rare book room with show and tell by MD was excellent. Nice reception on Wednesday. 4: N/A. 5: N/A.
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?
3: All handling was very careful. 4: Nope. 5: N/A.
14) Did you (or your institution) get your money’s worth? Would you recommend this course to others?
1: I’m very happy I was able to find the funds to come. I would recommend it to those who get funding from their institutions. 2–4: Yes. 5: I did learn a lot, though would have liked to go deeper into more problematic material.
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.)
5: I think it’s important to have an idea of what special issues and problems you personally face at your own institution, so those issues can be specifically addressed. DJL is extremely knowledgeable, but is not a mind reader. I think if the class had been able to ask more specifically for certain issues, they would have been addressed.
Aggregate Statistics
Number of respondents: 5
Leave
Institution gave me leave: 5 (100%)
Tuition
Institution paid tuition: 3 (60%)
I paid tuition myself: 1 (20%)
N/A: self-employed, retired, or scholarship: 1 (20%)
Housing
Institution paid housing: 2 (40%)
I paid for my own housing: 2 (40%)
N/A: stayed with friends or lived at home: 1 (20%)
Travel
Institution paid travel: 2 (40%)
I paid my own travel: 2 (40%)
N/A: lived nearby: 1 (20%)
Which one category most closely defines what you do for a living, or why you are at RBS? (Please check only one category)
Cataloguer, Law: 1 (20%)
Cataloguer, Rare Book: 2 (40%)
Cataloguer, General: 2 (40%)
How did you hear about this course?
RBS website: 3 (60%)
RBS faculty or staff recommendation: 2 (40%)