ILS 518

HISTORY OF BOOKS AND PRINTING

COURSE DESCRIPTION

A study of the history of books and printing, including papermaking, printing, binding, and book illustration.

COURSE OBJECTIVES/STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of this course students will to able to:

• describe a general background of the development of the book
• describe a general background of the development of printing
• demonstrate critical thinking and writing skills in the application of book history to information work 

 

COURSE OUTLINE

      I.     Overview

     II.     Materials

    III.     Writing

     IV.     Bookbinding

      V.     Illustration

     VI.     Descriptive Collation and Descriptive Bibliography

    VII.     Preservation / Conservation

   VIII.     Digitization

     IX.     Selected topics (such as Selection, Maps as Books, E-Books) 

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

• Extensive reading in the literature
• Participation in seminar-style discussion
• Several response and opinion papers
• Major term paper
• Field trip to an exhibition or special collection

 

SUGGESTED TEXTS / TEXTS USED IN THE PAST

Finkelstein, D., & McCleery, A. (2005). An introduction to book history. Routledge . ISBN: 0415314437 [List Price: $31.95] Paperback: 160 pages 9.1 x 6 x 0.5 inches

Olmert, Michael. (2003). The Smithsonian Book of Books (reissue ed.). Smithsonian Books. ISBN: 089599030X [List Price: $49.95] Hardcover: 320 pages 11.4 x 9.2 x 1.0 inches 

 

Approved by the ILS Department Curriculum Committee and Faculty, Spring 2009.