Understanding and Managing Rare Books module (RM50030)

You will study how to manage rare book collections. You will see how collections are cared for, catalogued, promoted, used by researchers and even added to

Credits
20
Module code
RM50030
Level
5
School
School of Humanities Social Sciences and Law
Discipline
Humanities
  • History of rare books
  • Book production in the hand-press era
  • Bindings
  • Cataloguing and bibliographical descriptions
  • Managing collections and providing customer services
  • Developing access and promotional polices

Number of credits

20 SCQF credits (10 ECTS credits) on Level 5, SHE M (SCQF 11)

There are thousands of rare book collections around the world.

Sometimes these can be large collections which have teams of specialist staff looking after them.

Alternatively, they can also be small collections whose management is the responsibility of a single member of staff. This single member of staff may often at the same time be responsible for other library, archive or museum collections.

No matter how small it is, a collection of rare books is an asset that needs to be appreciated, cared for, catalogued and promoted. Even the smallest collection may contain important items that researchers will find exciting. They also need to be made available to researchers and even perhaps added to.

This module is designed to help you do all these things.

What will you learn

In this module you will:

  • develop an appreciation of the principles and issues involved in the management and use of rare books and the history of the book
  • learn about the structure, physical characteristics and provenance of rare books. This will enable effective cataloguing and the production of appropriate findings aids
  • understand the issues relating to collection development and collection management
  • obtain the knowledge and physical skills needed to:
    • attract and inform users of rare books
    • promote and display rare books
    • disseminate knowledge of rare book collections and their significance

By the end of the module, you will be able to:

  • be familiar with the definitions and issues surrounding rare books and their management
  • understand and be able to prepare details bibliographical descriptions of printed books
  • understand and be able to implement measures relating to collection management and collection development
  • develop knowledge of access issues, surrogates and remote access, awareness and exploitation of collections, exhibitions and displays, and web presentation

Assignments / assessment

Coursework (100%) consisting of: 

  • essay (30%)
  • report (30%) 
  • assessed tasks (30%)
  • discussion board participation (10%)

This module does not have a final exam.

Teaching methods / timetable

  • independent study (100%)