Introduction to Rare Books Librarianship

This course 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.

Tutor

Jennie Hill (BA MA MSc Econ) Director of Learning and Teaching and Lecturer with the Department of Information Studies at Aberystwyth University. Jennie is a graduate of Aberystwyth having studied Heritage (MA) and Archives (MSc Econ). Jennie’s professional practice includes working for the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments and The Waterways Archive, before returning to the Department of Information Studies at Aberystwyth as a lecturer. Her research interests include rare books, with a particular focus on private and fine press books. In addition to research into private presses, she is also a collector of private press books and ephemera.

This course has been developed in collaboration with expert practitioners of rare books and special collections, in particular:

  • David Shaw (BA PhD DLitt) David’s lifetime of teaching and research in the history of printing and book trade, historical bibliography, and Renaissance French Literature includes many distinguished roles: Deputy Chairman, Canterbury Archaeological Trust; Honorary Senior Research Fellow, University of Kent; Hon. Editor of Electronic Publications, The Bibliographical Society; and Secretary of Consortium of European Research Libraries (CERL). DJShaw Publications.
  • Sarah Gray (BSc MCLIP) Sarah’s career in rare books librarianship has included editing and promotion work for several organisations (a large London publishing house, the Bibliographical Society, and Winchester Cathedral Library). This work led to a post in Canterbury Cathedral Library. Sarah graduated from one of the early intakes of Aberystwyth’s BSc in Information & Library Studies by distance learning, and continued her career as Librarian of The King’s School Canterbury. Research: Parish libraries; Children in Cathedral Libraries (Youth Libraries Review, 21); William Flackton, Canterbury Bookseller and Musician; James Abree (1691? – 1768) Canterbury’s first ‘modern’ printer.

Prerequisites

Students should have an interest in the history of the book. It is helpful to have access to a rare books collection, but this isn’t essential for studying the module successfully.

Learning Outcomes

After completing this short course you should be able to:

  • define the nature and purpose of rare-book libraries
  • discuss the history of the printed book in Western Europe, especially in Britain
  • identify the principal physical characteristics of a printed book of the hand-press period
  • explain the general principles of the printing process in the hand-press period
  • explain 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 a promotional strategy for a rare-books collection

Apply

To apply please complete the Short Course Application Form. 

This form should be completed and returned - with your reference - as soon as possible to the Undergraduate Admissions Office: 

For further information, please contact the Department of Information Studies tel: (+/0)1970 622731 / 622189; e-mail: dis-dept@aber.ac.uk