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Course description for LIS 425 -- History of the Book

Filed under GSLIS Administrative
Posted by GSLIS, November 05, 2005
View all posts for November 2005

Hi everyone,

Here is the course description from the Spring 2005 syllabus from “History of the Book.” A more condensed version will be posted on the website later this week, but for now, this should give you a good sense of the course. “History of the Book” was formerly offered as LIS532. Please note, a description for the new Global Diversity course will also be posted at some point over the next few days.

— Jen

History of the Book:

The course will cover a wide variety of topics concerned with the history and development of the book, both as a physical object and as the bearer of intellectual content. Therefore, the lectures / discussions will look at two different kinds of phenomena.

The first will concentrate on the physical properties of the objects that carried written and pictorial texts. These classes will be concerned with such things as papyrus, paper, parchment, and other surfaces for written communication; bookbinding; the development of printing types; printing presses; ink and its use; quills; and the other physical objects that went into the development and production of the book.

The second phenomenon to observe is the intellectual use to which books have been put; their distribution, collection, and storage; editing texts for publication; the bibliographical description of books; their impact on literacy and industrialization; and the use, misuse, and appreciation of books throughout history. One topic to observe here is the condemnation of books by various people and groups—censorship in its many manifestations.

A third area that the course will address picks up the miscellaneous but important issues of the world of libraries (books from selection to use; preservation and conservation; access to information; the present and future of libraries; use and storage of online resources; etc.); the antiquarian and out-of-print book trade; remainders; handling, storing, caring for, repairing, and conserving books; legal considerations of book/text ownership and use; and other areas of book history.

The students will be introduced to the extensive vocabulary of the book world. With a mastery of this new vocabulary, the students will have a grasp of a subject of extraordinary breadth, boundless fascination, and endless debate. When the course is over, students will never look at a book in the same way as they always had. As Milton said, “A good book is the precious life blood of a master spirit.” This course will explain why.

Jennifer Doyle
GSLIS Website and Special Projects Manager
Phone: 617-521-2738
jennifer.doyle@simmons.edu