I did the European bookbinding course at the London Rare Books school whilst I was freelancing so paid for it myself, and also had to take a week away from work to do it, and obviously if you’re freelancing and not working you’re not paid! So, it was quite expensive, but it was something I really wanted to do and for which I saved up.

Katie Flanagan BA(Hons), MA, MCLIP

Special Collections Librarian

T +44 (0)1895 266139

From: CIG E-Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Karen Pierce
Sent: 15 April 2015 11:45
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [CIG-E-FORUM] Routes into rare book cataloguing

A few people have mentioned the great courses that are run by the London Rare Books School and the US courses.  Although they all sound amazing, they also sound quite expensive.  Is it a case of – if you are really serious/interested you just save up because it is that important; are there bursaries, or is anyone lucky enough to get their work to pay for them?  Bit of a rambling question – just wondered if the people who have taken the courses would like to comment?

Karen

From: CIG E-Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kristine Chapman
Sent: 15 April 2015 10:45
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [CIG-E-FORUM] Routes into rare book cataloguing

Hi,

I am the Principal Librarian at the National Museum Wales.

I am not a full time rare books cataloguer, or in fact a full time cataloguer at all, as my role involves a wide range of activities, but one of them is caring for, and cataloguing the rare books collection here.

I was already working in the Museum when I did my Masters, so I took part one of the Rare Books module that Aberystwyth was offering as part of my course [sadly I haven’t done part two, as it hadn’t been prepared by then].

Since then I’ve done a practical cataloguing workshop at Middle Temple Library in London thanks to the Historic Libraries Forum, and also a Conservation and Care course at the National History Museum, which although it did not focus on cataloguing covered a great deal on the history of the book, and how we describe the various parts that make up the physical object.

I try to supplement that with reading as much as possible, although a lot of it seems to be just trying to figure things out for yourself!!

My ambition is to get on one of the fab Rare Books School courses that run in London each summer, http://www.ies.sas.ac.uk/london-rare-books-school or the ones that run in the US  http://www.rarebookschool.org/courses/libraries/l10/ or http://www.rarebookschool.org/courses/libraries/l30/

Kristine Chapman
Prif Lyfrgellydd / Principal Librarian
Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales
Parc Cathays / Cathays Park
Caerdydd / Cardiff
CF10 3NP
+44 (0) 29 2057 3234
www.amgueddfacymru.ac.uk / www.museumwales.ac.uk