Illuminated Manuscripts are BACK

Now for some really old school library things!

I took a lot of Medieval art history classes at W&M, so I know a fair bit about illuminated manuscripts (Like The Book of Kells, which when I was little, I thought was The Book of Kels. Anyway.). However, I had no idea people were still making them as books, not just single page works. A student from Germany named Benjamin Harff made a copy of Tolkien's Silmarillion and did the illuminations all by hand for a university project. And it is BEYOND beautiful. This title page took 70+ hours of work alone. Here is an interview that he did with the Tolkien Library that can give you an idea of just how much work went into this project. There are some large and gorgeous pictures of more of the book as well that really show the detail involved.

post #1 and the first week of classes

So, here I am. One week into the Information Science master’s program. I’m actually starting this blog because many of the second year students suggested blogging as a good idea while we are in school. I’m hoping this will turn out well. I blogged a bit during my study abroad in New Zealand mostly to keep in touch with family back home, but nothing too serious.

Therefore, I deem it appropriate that this blog not be very serious.

My first week of classes was eventful and very much changed my perspective. A few things to note:

• First and foremost – I have never taken any classes before that even remotely resemble what I am learning now. It isn’t like taking an advanced biology class where you build on what you have learned before. This is something TOTALLY new. I’m learning to change the way my brain works. I think I am making progress because I’ve had a few headaches and I’ve been hungry more so than usual!

• Secondly – the bus. Despite making a few trial runs on the bus system, (this coming from a person who grew up where there wasn’t any public transport) I missed a few important details. Like the fact that the Friday Center park and ride lot will be FULL by 9am. There is another lot about a half mile away. The bus that stops there will also get me to the same spot on campus. I learned this after jogging a half mile back to the Friday Center in the balmy 92 degree heat.

• Last – I’m one of the youngest in my program. Not that there is anything wrong with that, I just found it interesting.

And in the tradition of my very first week of classes at William and Mary, the week ends with a hurricane! I don't think Irene will be nearly as interesting (and destructive) as Ernesto from where I'm sitting. But I'm ready with rainboots this time.

Well, that’s all for now! Hopefully sometime in the near future I will have something insightful about what is, isn’t, or should be going on in the world of information and library science. In the meantime, one of my classes has a blog. It is pretty interesting, check it out!