Admission requirements
This course is available for students on the MA Book and Digital Media Studies. Students from other programmes are welcome to approach the course coordinator for admission, but this will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Description
We live in an era of information overload, where it is often challenging to distinguish between fact and fiction, and where there can seem to be too many (often contesting) answers to any question, all available at our fingertips. Finding appropriate data, filtering out irrelevancies, and recalling the vital are skills that we often take for granted. However, these techniques depend on a range of information management strategies which were developed throughout the history of the handwritten (manuscript) and early-printed book. Even illustrated tabulations, excerpt collections and alphabetic indexes – seemingly innocuous devices for information storage and retrieval – had boundless potential to transmit and generate new knowledge. Furthermore, institutional transformations during this period (for example, the rise of universities, changing practices in library management) impacted the manner in which books were stored, classified and consulted.
Using sources from Leiden’s world-leading library collections, students will locate and investigate material evidence for premodern strategies of information management in books. Throughout this course, ‘the book’ (and the institutions which ensured its preservation) will serve as our lens on the past, permitting us to interrogate the medieval and early-modern conception of the book as a privileged carrier of information.
Course objectives
- To identify and critically appraise the efficacy of pre-modern strategies of information retrieval and management;
- To learn and apply book historical methodologies in exploring, contextualising, and assessing primary and secondary sources;
- To work independently on a case study showing a nuanced understanding of material developments in the book and their impact on intellectual culture.
Timetable
The timetables are available through MyTimetable.
Mode of instruction
Remove if not applicable. Please don’t change the categories.
- Seminar
Assessment method
Please indicate here how the course is assessed.
Possibilities (Note that in case of mid-term examinations the weighting must be specified and how the final mark is established):
Written examination with closed questions (eg multiple choice)
Written examination with short open questions
Written examination with essay questions
Take home examination/assignment
Active Participation/coöperation in class/group
Essay, paper
Oral examination
Abstract, oral presentation.
To complete the final mark, please take notice of the following:
the final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average
or
the final mark for the course is established by (i) determination of the weighted average combined with (ii) additional requirements. These additional requirements generally relate to one or more of the subtests always be sufficient
Please describe how the resit will be arranged. The resit may consist of the same subtests as the first opportunity, but this is not compulsory. The alternative is to combine subtests for the resit. Offering a resit is mandatory.
Assessment
Mid-term paper (written assignment)
End of term paper (written assignment)
Weighing
The final mark for the course is established by determination of the weighted average.
Mid-term paper (written assignment): 50%
End of term paper (written assignment): 50%
Resit
In case of an insufficient grade, students may resit both components.
Inspection and feedback
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.
Reading list
A reading list will be provided at the start of the course.
Registration
Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.
Registration À la carte education, Contract teaching and Exchange
Not applicable
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Arsenaal.
Remarks
Not applicable