Posts filed under 'Rare Book School'
My news queue is so long at this point that I fear that I will never have time to catch up. But, j’s post prompted me to mention a few important things.
As I am assuming most of you know, Terry Belanger, the founder and director of Rare Book School, was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship this week. I heard the good news as soon as I arrived at work on Tuesday and was very excited to read about it on the RBS website.
Rare Book School has received many well-deserved honors this year. In June RBS received an IMLS grant to fund 50 scholarships for the upcoming year. So, if you have never been to Charlottesville, would like to learn about rare books and the book arts, and want to meet the “genius in residence”, you should consider applying for a scholarship. The application deadline is October 1.
And, since I am writing about RBS, I would also like to thank everyone there for helping me have an enjoyable and educational time in Charlottesville last March and the previous August. In the better-late-than-never category, I hope to finish posting my March dispatches to this blog soon.
September 22nd, 2005
I received the most delightful surprise on Monday. It had nothing to do with Valentine’s Day, but everything to do with my first love — books. I received an invitation to return to Rare Book School next month for the advanced descriptive bibliography course. So, I will be spending spring break in Charlottesville and the time before then making my way through the reading list. There is a great deal to read in a short period of time, but if I forgo the Metro during my T commute for the next two weeks and read Studies in Bibliography instead, I should be prepared. Half-priced chocolate and Rare Book School — what a happy week!
February 20th, 2005
As some readers may have noticed, my Rare Book School notes are on another weblog. I started a weblog at frassle because after seeing a demo of the latest version at last week’s meeting at the Berkman Center, I wanted to try it out. I am very happy with my second (third? fourth?) weblog, but I only started it a few days ago.
I had hoped to double-post my RBS dispatches, but the server for this weblog has been down quite frequently, especially late at night and early in the morning — the only times I have to post at the moment. The people at the Berkman Center are working very hard to maintain the server, and with any luck, it should be more stable soon. Until then, check The Playful Antiquarian or Paper Clips. If I am not blogging here, I am probably blogging somewhere else :-)
August 3rd, 2004
Happily, I made it to Monticello and completed my visit before an early afternoon downpour turned my first full day in Charlottesville into a washout. As the Monticello website and various guidebooks suggest, it is advisable to arrive at Monticello early, especially if you are visiting on a summer weekend. The wait was bearable but slightly uncomfortable in the sun and with the pre-rain humidity. And there was the added unpleasantness (for squeamish folks like me) of trees teeming with spiders.
Inside the house, we were led from room to room at a quick clip by a very knowledgeable and articulate guide. Sadly, it was difficult to listen to the tour guide and observe the displays and items in the room, and no time was given just to look at individual rooms without the guide speaking.
Unsurprisingly, my travel companion and I were disappointed,especially, about being rushed out the library/bookroom. Time constraints also prevented people in our group from asking many questions, which was sad since everyone, including the children, asked intelligent, thoughtful questions.
I took obligatory photos of the famous West Front and of the south pavilion, where Jefferson lived alone and later with his wife, Martha, while the main house was being built. I wanted to upload them to my other weblog, but I cannot seem to access it at the moment. When the server is accessible again, I will share my photos. I am a mediocre (at best) photographer, so please do not expect much.
On a final note, as the RBS travel and housing guide mentions, if you pay for one adult admission ticket with a $20 bill, you will receive a crisp $2 bill as a bit of a souvenir. It was a delightful discovery for me. Nifty and clever.
August 1st, 2004
After sleeping through two plane rides with my dog-eared copy of Bowers’ Principles of Bibliographical Description in my lap, I have arrived in Charlottesville, Virginia. There is nothing exciting to report yet, but any interested readers are free to read my dispatches from Rare Book School. I will post updates as my schedule and energy levels permit.
August 1st, 2004
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