Rare Books Librarianship 1

Module code: DSM1610 (postgraduate level)

This Postgraduate Short Course is the first of two Short Courses on rare books librarianship and it 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 approximately 1850) and examines the problems of identifying and making available valuable and early printed materials in libraries.

The aim of this Short Course is to enable students to identify materials in a rare-books collection and give them the appropriate curatorial care, give help and advice to the general public about materials in a rare-books collection, and to deal appropriately with bibliographical queries and promotion.


After completing this short course you should be able to:

  • critically appraise the nature and purpose of rare-book libraries
  • critically evaluate the history of the printed book in Western Europe, especially in Britain
  • identify and assess the principal physical characteristics of a printed book of the hand-press period
  • critically evaluate the general principles of the printing process in the hand-press period
  • interpret the roles of the various tradesmen and craftsmen within the book trade, such as printer, bookseller, binder, papermaker, compositor
  • demonstrate how to identify a book of the hand-press period using the standard bibliographical reference tools for English printed materials
  • analyse the main curatorial and management problems facing a rare-books librarian, including security, conservation, information technology, and reader services
  • devise and justify a promotional strategy for a rare-books collection

Course Tutors

Sarah Gray BSc - Librarian of The King’s School Canterbury
Sarah came to libraries and rare books via the publicity department of a large London publishing house, and later, part-time editing work for Winchester Cathedral Library and the Bibliographical Society. Research interests include Children in Cathedral Libraries; William Flackton, Canterbury Bookseller and Musician; James Abree, Canterbury’s first ‘modern’ printer; and parish libraries. 

David Shaw BA PhD - Former Secretary of the Consortium of European Research Libraries (CERL)
David spent many years teaching and researching in historical bibliography and Renaissance French literature at the University of Kent at Canterbury, with research work on the history of printing in early-modern Europe, especially in fifteenth and sixteenth century France and England, and also on the history of the provincial book trade in eighteenth-century England. He developed computer-based catalogues for early-printed books and directed  several rare-books catalogue projects, including the pre-1801 books at Canterbury Cathedral, several parish library collections in Kent, and the Cathedral Libraries Catalogue (a union catalogue of books printed before 1701 in Anglican Cathedrals in England and Wales).

Application Information

Eligibility

Students completing this Short Course should ideally have access to a rare books collection, however small. If this poses a problem, please consult Barry Bloomfield’s A Directory of Rare Book and Special Collections in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. 2nd edition. London: Library Association, 1997, or contact the Short Course Tutors via the Department on (+44) 1970 622188.

This Short Course is taught by Distance Learning mode. Applicants must have access to a computer or equivalent with broadband internet access and have time to study the learning materials and take part in online activities and discussions.

Course Fees 1st October 2011 to 31st March 2012

Short Course fee £300 (10 credits)
Registration fee £100 (non-refundable)
Fees are payable in full at the time of registration, before starting the Short Course.

Apply now!

Complete the Short Course Application Form and forward to the Postgraduate Admissions Office.
The deadline for applying for this year’s Short Courses is Friday 16th September 2011.

Further information:

Contact the Department of Information Studies.

Further links: