Gwybodaeth Modiwlau
Course Delivery
Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
---|---|
Seminars / Tutorials | One introductory session to introduce students to Open Learning materialn. 2-3 further group sessions with internal module co-ordinator to support students’ progress on the module. Regular interaction with module authors / tutors via VLE. |
Practical | Practical talks are specified as part of the course work activities |
Assessment
Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
---|---|---|
Semester Assessment | Essay ( 2,000 words) | 50% |
Semester Assessment | Design a management policy (1,500) for a fictitious collection of rare books | 50% |
Supplementary Assessment | Submission of supplementary coursework for failed course elements in line with the learning outcomes of the original assignments (failed component(s) only) |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
* Describe the nature and purpose of rare book libraries
* Outline the history of the printed book in Western Europe, especially in Britain
- Outline the general principles of the printing process in the hand-press period and state the principal physical characteristics of a book thus printed
* Critically interpret the roles of the various tradesmen and craftsmen within the book trade, such as printer, bookseller, binder, papermaker, compositor
* Critically analyse the main curatorial and management problems facing a rare books librarian, including book identification, security, conservation, information technology, and reader services
* Devise and justify a promotional strategy for a rare books collection
Brief description
This module provides a general introduction to this specialist field. It gives a brief overview of the development of the printed book in the hand-press period (to c. 1850) especially in England, and examines the problems of identifying and making available valuable and early printed materials in libraries. Students will be given the opportunity to see a working rare books collection and to discuss with a rare books librarian the challenges of managing these resources.
Content
What is a rare book?
Types of rare books
History of printing
Unit Two: Book production on the hand-press
Naming of parts
Book formats
Printing on the hand press
Printing today
Unit Three: The book trade: its personnel and organisation
Employment in the book trade
The book trade and its environment
Unit Four: Identifying rare books and interpreting imprints
Identifying English books printed before 1800
Interpreting imprints
Identifying the roles of people named in imprints
Cataloguing rare books
Unit Five: Care of the Collections
Conservation
Security
Planning for disaster
Advice
Unit Six: Promoting your rare books library or special collection
Who uses the collections?
Exhibitions
Income generation
IT requirements
Module Skills
Skills Type | Skills details |
---|---|
Application of Number | N/A |
Communication | Writing and presentation skills (written skills assessed only) |
Improving own Learning and Performance | Students are set activities which involve reflection on practices in their workplace and suggestions for the acquisition of relevant new skills (such as promotion, and disaster planning) |
Information Technology | Use of web-based catalogues and databases; use of web-based conference facilities |
Personal Development and Career planning | Use of the library working environment in activities and assignments in a specialist area of library and information studies |
Problem solving | Several activities in the module set tasks which involve identification of problems and of factors which might influence potential solutions |
Research skills | Several activities involve a researched follow-up to taught examples |
Subject Specific Skills | Identification and analysis of elements of early printed books; reading room management for rare books; promotion; disaster planning; interpretation of Latin Imprints |
Team work | N/A |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 7