Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Seminars / Tutorials | One introductory session to introduce students to Open Learning materialn. Further group sessions with internal module co-ordinator to support students’ progress on the module. Regular interaction with module authors / tutors via VLE. |
| Other | Visits to relevant organisations such as the National Library of Wales. |
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
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.
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