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LIBR 280-03
History of Books and Libraries
Spring 2007 Greensheet

Dr. Christopher Brown-Syed
E-mail
Office Location:Rm. 534 Baldy Hall, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY
Phone: (716) 645-2412 x1164
Fax: (716) 645-3775


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Textbooks and Readings
Course Requirements
Resources
Blackboard
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Students must self-enroll for this course on Blackboard. You will be required to use a password access code that I will provide using MYSJSU Messaging system.

Course Description

This class examines the role of the book and the library in expressing and fostering culture throughout history. It traces the development of the book through its many stages—cuneiform fragments, illuminated manuscripts, printed books, and electronic journals—and explores how the creation, use, and storage of information are affected by social and technological change. The development of libraries and librarianship and how they have accommodated themselves to the changing form of the book will also be considered.

In this course, we will, for convenience, treat four broadly defined periods in the history of libraries; a) the ancient, b) the medieval, c) the age of Incunabula, by which is meant the age of the early printed book, and d) the modern era, which saw the rise of public, academic, and special libraries as we know them. In discussing each era, we will note a) the materials and media which comprised collections, b) the contents and audiences of those collections, c) the analytical techniques appropriate for dealing with them, and d) some contemporary figures of note. Emphasis will be placed upon the physical objects which have comprised collections, the institutions which housed them, and their functions within societies at given historical moments.

This is also a course about the historiography of librarianship, and about the application of historical methods in the study of libraries and their collections. Ancillary methods such as analytical and descriptive bibliography, archaeology, paleography, typography, and iconography, will be introduced, as will some modern theories of text.

Prerequisite: LIBR 200

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to recognize and describe in general terms the types and functions of libraries and the media which have comprised library collections at various moments in Western history.  Some Asian and Middle Eastern examples will also be introduced.

As well, participants will be able to demonstrate how the writing of library history has evolved, and to suggest aspects and issues of the contemporary library scene which may present research opportunities for historians in the future, based upon their understandings of the roles of various types of libraries within the societies in which they have occurred. Students will demonstrate their knowledge of course content by writing bibliographic essays on selected topics in the history of libraries and media, and completing online assignments, and a final online examination.

LIBR 280 supports the following SLIS Core Competencies:

Textbooks and Readings    

Required Readings
Purchase:

Download:

Recommended Works for Reference

  1. Adkins, D. (2002). "The digital library and younger users". International yearbook of library and information management 2002-2003. G. E. Gorman. London, Library Association: 133-156.
  2. Altick Richard, D. (1963). The English common reader : a social history of the mass reading public. Chicago ; London, University of Chicago Press.
  3. Avrin, Leila m(1991). Scribes, Script, and Books; the book arts from antiquity to the renaissance. Availability: in bookstores, about $100. SJSU King Library  Z4 .A88 1991
  4. Backhouse, J. and British Library. (2000). Medieval rural life in the Luttrell Psalter. Toronto, University of Toronto Press.
  5. Basbanes, N. A. (1995). A gentle madness : bibliophiles, bibliomanes, and the eternal passion for books. New York, H. Holt and Co.
  6. Berners-Lee, T. and M. Fischetti (1999). Weaving the Web : the original design and ultimate destiny of the World Wide Web by its inventor. San Francisco, HarperSanFrancisco.
  7. Bobinski, George Sylvan. Carnegie Libraries: Their History and Impact on American Public Library Development
  8. Bobinski, George Sylvan. Libraries and Librarianship: Sixty Years of Challenge and Change, 1945 - 2005.
  9. Bringhurst, R. (2004). The solid form of language. Kentville, N.S., Gaspereau Press.
  10. Brown-Syed, C. and C. B. Sands (1997). "Librarians in Fiction; a Discussion." Education Libraries 21(1).
  11. Canfora, L. (1989). The vanished library. Berkeley, University of California Press.
  12. Cantor, N. F. and R. I. Schneider (1967). How to study history. New York, Crowell.
  13. Carmicheal, D. W. (2003). Organizing archival records : a practical method of arrangement and description for small archives. Walnut Creek, CA, AltaMira Press.
  14. Cart, M. (2002). In the stacks : short stories about libraries and librarians. New York, Overlook Press.
  15. Casson, L. (2001). Libraries in the ancient world. New Haven, Yale University Press.
  16. Chappell, W. (1970). A short history of the printed word. Boston, Nonpareil Books.
  17. Clark, J.W. (John Willis) 1833-910. Libraries in the Medieval and Renaissance Periods; The Rede Lecture Delivered June 13, 1894. Available: http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/19415
  18. Cogliati Arano, L. (1976). The medieval health handbook Tacuinum sanitatis. London, Barrie & Jenkins.
  19. Constable, G. (1976). Medieval monasticism : a select bibliography. Toronto, University of Toronto Press.
  20. Day, R. E. (2001). The modern invention of information : discourse, history, and power. Carbondale, Southern Illinois University Press. 
  21. Dennys, R. (1976). The heraldic imagination. London : Toronto, Barrie & Jenkins ; Anson-Cartwright Editions.
  22. Diringer, David (1982). The book before printing; ancient, medieval and oriental. Availability: in bookstores, about $16.  
  23. Dzielska, M. (1995). Hypatia of Alexandria. Cambridge, Mass., Harvard University Press.
  24. Echavarria, Tami and Andrew B. Wertheimer, Surveying the Role of Ethnic-American Library Associations. Library Trends. 46(2) Fall 1997: 373-391.
  25. Ellis, I. C. (1996). Book finds : how to find, buy, and sell used and rare books. New York, Berkley Pub. Group.
  26. Fecko Mary, B. (1997). Electronic resources : access and issues. London, Bowker-Saur.
  27. Floud, R. (1973). An introduction to quantitative methods for historians. London, Methuen.
  28. Gaskell, P. (1978). A new introduction to bibliography. New York, Oxford University Press.
  29. Gellrich, J. M. (1985). The idea of the book in the Middle Ages : language theory, mythology, and fiction. Ithaca, NY, Cornell University Press.
  30. Green, J. (1996). Chasing the sun : dictionary makers and the dictionaries they made. New York, Henry Holt.
  31. Habermas, J. (1979). Communication and the evolution of society. Boston, Beacon Press.
  32. Harris, Michael H. History of Libraries of the Western World. (Paperback - Aug 1999) Availability: in bookstores, about $40.00. SJSU King Library Z721 .H227 1984      
  33. Haskins, C. H. (1927 [1971]). The renaissance of the twelfth century. Cambridge,, Harvard University Press.
  34. Haskins, C. H. (1957). The rise of universities. Ithaca, N.Y., Great Seal Books.
  35. Howard, Nicole. The Book: The Life Story of a Technology (Greenwood Technographies). (Hardcover - Sep 30, 2005). Availability: bookstores, about $45.
  36. Howard, R. J. (1982). Three faces of hermeneutics : an introduction to current theories of understanding. Berkeley, University of California Press.  
  37. Innis, H. A. and D. Godfrey (1986). Empire & communications. Victoria [B.C.], Press Porcepic.
  38. Katz, William A. (1995). Dahl’s history of the book. Lanham, M.D. : Scarecrow Press, 1995. Availability: SJSU King Library Z4 .K37 1995       
  39. Knowles, J., L. Rhead, et al. (1986). King Arthur and his knights. New York, Children's Classics : Distributed by Crown Publishers.
  40. Lasky, K. and K. Hawkes (1994). The librarian who measured the Earth. Boston, Little, Brown and Company.
  41. Lebvre, Lucien. The coming of the book: the impact of printing 1450-1800. (Verso Classics, 10).
  42. Malory, T. S. and A. Beardsley (1972). The birth life and acts of King Arthur of his noble knights of the round table their marvellous enquests and adventures the achieving of the San Greal and in the end le morte darthur with the dolourous death and departing out of this world of them all. London, Dent.
  43. Malory, T., A. W. Pollard, et al. (1917). The romance of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table. New York,, The Macmillan Company.   
  44. McKerrow, R. B. (1967). An introduction to bibliography for literary students. Oxford, Clarendon Press.
  45. Morris, W., E. D. LeMire, et al. (1969). The unpublished lectures of William Morris. Detroit,, Wayne State University Press.
  46. Mount, E. and R. Massoud (1999). Special libraries and information centers : an introductory text. Washington, DC, Special Libraries Association.
  47. Murray, K. M. E. (1979). Caught in the web of words : James A. H. Murray and the Oxford English dictionary; with a pref. by R.W. Birchfield. Oxford, Oxford University Press.
  48. Pearsall, D. A. and E. Salter (1973). Landscapes and seasons of the medieval world. London, Elek.
  49. Peterson, L. (2002). "Digital versus print issues". International yearbook of library and information management 2002-2003. G. E. Gorman. London, Library Association: 26-44.
  50. Pisani, A. (1992). Euro-librarianship : shared resources, shared responsibilities. New York, Haworth Press.
  51. Ricketts, C. S., B. Rogers, et al. (1899 [1978]). A defence of the revival of printing. [London] Forest Hills, NY, Hacon & Ricketts.
  52. Robertson, D. W. (1962 [1973]). A preface to Chaucer : studies in medieval perspectives. Princeton, N.J., Princeton University Press.
  53. Ross, C. S. (2002). "Reading in a digital age". International yearbook of library and information management 2002-2003. G. E. Gorman. London, Library Association: 91-111.
  54. Rubin, R. e. (2000). Foundations of library and information science. New York, Neal-Schuman.
  55. Savage, Ernest Albert, 1877-1966 Old English Libraries. Available: http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/1615
  56. Shera, J. H. and D. J. Foskett (1965). Libraries and the organization of knowledge. Hamden, Conn.,, Archon Books.
  57. Shores, L. (1965). Mark Hopkins' log, and other essays. Hamden, Conn.,, Shoe String Press.
  58. Smalley, B. (1960). English Friars and Antiquity in the Early Fourteenth Century. Oxford, Basil Blackwell.
  59. Thaler, M. (1997). The librarian from the black lagoon. New York, Scholastic.  
  60. Thompson, J. W. (1939). The medieval library. Chicago,, The University of Chicago press.
  61. Thompson, James Westfall. The Medieval Library. University of Chicago Studies in Library Science. Chicago,: The University of Chicago press, 1939.
  62. Updike Daniel, B. (1980). Printing types : their history, forms and use : a study in survivals. New York, Dover ; London : Constable.
  63. Van Slyck, Abigail A. Free to all: Carnegie libraries and American culture, 1890-1920.
  64. Wertheimer, Andrew B.  “Quantifying the Goodness of Library History Research: A Bibliometric Study of Libraries & Culture/ The Journal of Library History.” Libraries & Culture  40 (Summer 2005): 267-84.
  65. Wertheimer, Andrew B.  and Donald G. Davis, Jr. Editors. Library History Research in America: Essays Commemorating the Fiftieth Anniversary of the American Library Association - Library History Round Table. (Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress-Center for the Book, 2000). [Also published as Libraries & Culture 35.1]
  66. Winchester, S. (1998). The professor and the madman : a tale of murder, insanity, and the making of the Oxford English dictionary. New York, HarperCollins Publishers.
  67. Wortman, W. A. (1989). Collection management : background and principles. Chicago, American Library Association.
  68. White, T. H. and Cambridge University Library. (1984). The book of beasts : being a translation from a Latin bestiary of the twelfth century. New York, Dover.
  69. Wright Cyril, E. (1973). English heraldic manuscripts in the British Museum. London, published for the British Library Board by British Museum.

Course Requirements

Course Materials
Any other necessary equipment/materials/fees:
A computer with reliable Internet access.

Contacting the Instructor
Because this course is offered over the Internet, electronic mail is the most effective means of contacting the instructor. The instructor cannot be contacted on campus, but will attempt to respond promptly to electronic mail.

Course Expectations
You should allow three hours per week to review course materials, participate in the online discussion forum (Blackboard) and take part in occasional online chats. We will attempt to arrange chats at times suitable for participants in various time-zones.

Assignments
This course will require substantial independent investigation and research in libraries or over the Internet in addition to the time you have allocated for class. Formal assignments include:

  1. One major paper or bibliographic essay, equivalent to 8-10 printed pages, on a suitable topic dealing with the book and libraries before the advent of printing with movable type (ca 1450), (20%).  Due April 6th, 2007
  2. One major paper or bibliographic essay, equivalent to 8-10 printed pages, on a suitable topic dealing with the book and libraries since the advent of printing with movable type. (20%). Due May 11th, 2007
  3. Four online tests, and one online final examination (total of 50%), typically involving multiple choice, true/false, and short answer questions. Online tests must be completed by February 16th, March 2nd, March 16th, and April 6th.  The final examination must be submitted by the end of the Spring 2007 Final Exam period: Wednesday, May 23rd, 2007.
  4. Evidence of participation in, and substantive contribution to online discussions of assigned reading of course topics (10%).

Tentative Schedule of Topics
(Subject to Change)

Week Topics
1 INTRODUCTION
Methodology
The study of History, primary and secondary sources, ancillary sciences, varieties of history, historiography, archives, bibliographic essays.
Cantor and Schneider
2 Methodology
Semiotics, textual criticism, social and cultural history, intellectual history, the historical thesis,  quantitative methods, etc.
Innis, Casson
3 ANCIENT LIBRARIES
STONE, TABLET, SCROLL, AND CODEX
Archaeological and Historical Evidence, Writing systems
4 MEDIEVAL LIBRARIES
MANUSCRIPTS
Paleography, Iconography, Writing systems
Thompson, de Bury, Smalley
5 Medieval collections and institutions
6 THE INCUNABULA
EARLY PRINTED BOOKS
Typography, Descriptive and Analytical Bibliography
Eisenstein, Greetham
7 The 17th and 18th Centuries
The triumph of print
8 THE MODERN ERA
The 19th Century
Libraries and society in Europe and America, library collections and methods
9 19th and Early 20th Century America
Libraries and society in Europe and America, library collections and methods
Dewey, Cutter, Carnegie
10 20th Century
Contemporary publishing, libraries and society, library administration and methods
Ranganathan
11 20th Century
American Public and Academic libraries, the birth of the Web, collections, services
12 The early 21st Century
American, British, Canadian, Australian perspectives
13 The early 21st Century
World persepectives
14 Ongoing roles of Libraries
Emerging and traditional services, techniques, methods.

NOTE:  According to University policy F69-24, “Students should attend all meetings of their classes, not only because they are responsible for material discussed therein, but because active participation is frequently essential to insure maximum benefit for all members of the class.  Attendance per se shall not be used as a criterion for grading.”

Grading Scale
The standard SJSU SLIS Grading Scale is utilized for all SLIS courses:

97-100 A
94-96 A-
91-93 B+
88-90 B
85-87 B-
82-84 C+
79-81 C
76-78 C-
73-75 D+
70-72 D
67-69 D-
Below 67 F

Grading
Faculty will evaluate the responses using a combination of the following general criteria:

Major Papers:

Assignment Deadlines
It is understood that that electronic communication services may be subject to interruption. With the exception of the final examination, which must be completed during the University’s designated period, assignment deadlines will be adjusted take into account time differences and communication disruptions if necessary. There is no penalty for ‘late’ assignments, but in order to receive timely feedback on your work, you should plan on completing each assignment on or before its due-date. Papers submitted after the deadlines indicated will not be eligible for grades of "A".

Academic Integrity
Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at San José State University, and the University's Academic Integrity Policy requires you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the Office of Student Conduct and Ethical Development. The policy on academic integrity can be found at http://sa.sjsu.edu/student_conduct.

Reasonable Accommodation of Disabilities
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, please e-mail me as soon as possible. Presidential Directive 97-03 requires that students with disabilities register with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) to establish record of their disability.

No matter where students reside, they should contact the SJSU DRC to register. The DRC Web site: http://www.drc.sjsu.edu/