60 North Harding Road

Columbus, OH 43209-1524

614-239-8977 (voice)

614--239-0599 (Fax)

info@mbkcons.com www.mbkcons.com

Rare Books

LIS60665

Course Objectives

The course will consist of two parts – History and Bibliographic Description, and Rare Books Collections Administration

Students will learn …

1. The place of Rare Book collections within a library or archives

2. Identification and description of Rare Books, Manuscripts and non-print items

3. To perform basic cataloging and arrangement for Rare Books, manuscripts and special collections

4. Understand preservation, conservation and security concerns for Rare Collections. of preservation efforts;

5. To be able to identify and organize the elements, activities and funding for a Rare Books Department.

6. Promote the Rare Books Collections throughout the library and the academic community to encourage use of the materials and promotion of the collections through exhibit, bibliographic instruction, research projects and publication.

7. To become familiar with information sources on preservation available through publications and organizations and including technical standards, program development tools, scientific and administrative research reports, and advocacy literature.

Course Requirements and Grading Opportunities:

Progressive Descriptive Analysis (15%) – This progressive exercise will build descriptive analysis skills starting with descriptive bibliographic analysis and biographical sketches and ending with bibliographic essays.  This exercise will familiarize students with specialized research tools and techniques utilized by Rare Book Librarians.

Rare Book Terminology quiz (10%) – testing understanding of unique terminology for Rare Books and Manuscripts and Parts of a Book

Rare Book bibliographic / descriptive analysis project (30%) – each student will select a rare book (pre-1800s) and will perform bibliographic analysis of the title.  Written presentation will include: bibliographic features, brief history of the item, descriptive cataloging and any unique features.

Group presentations (20%) shall be discussions of the broader issues of Rare Books and Manuscripts and will include an oral presentation by the group as well as a bibliography containing 6-12 citations and succinct fact-sheet for distribution to the other students.  Bibliography and fact sheet will be given to instructor one week prior to presentation for duplication and distribution to class.

Topics for group presentations are:

1. The Digital World and Special Collections / Rare Books
2. Promotion and Outreach
3. Preservation, Conservation and Security Issues
4. Non-book Collections
5. Development and Donor Relations
6. The Profession

Final Examination: (25%) A final examination will measure students understanding of concepts taught in the course.  Thirty per cent (30%) of the student's grade is based upon the student's performance on this examination.

Course grades are assigned upon the full semester's performance as follows:  90% "A"; 80% "B"; 70% "C"; 60% "D" and below 60% "F".

Attendance and participation:  Attendance at each of the class meetings is required and encouraged.   Students are encouraged to draw upon and share their personal, employment, and academic experiences as well as upon supplemental readings.

Accessibility of the instructor and communication between student and instructor:

The course instructor welcomes contact at the adjunct office in SLIS – Kent on Thursday afternoons and by appointment. 

SLIS Telephone 330-672-2782, home 614-239-8977, fax 614-239-0599. 

Internet:  mkahn1@kent.edu or mbkcons@netexp.net .  The instructor communicates important information to all members of the class via electronic mail; for this reason student access and usage of electronic mail is essential

MBK Consulting

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