New Rare Book School Announced by UCLA

-- Library Journal, 01/26/2006

The University of California–Los Angeles (UCLA) has announced the formation of a rare book school within the Department of Information Studies at the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies. The chartering of the school comes at a time of "renewed interest in special collections coupled with a growing need for training in the field of rare books and manuscripts," said professor Beverly Lynch, founding director of the new school.

The California Rare Book School is scheduled to open in summer 2006, with five initial courses, including Book Illustration Processes to 1900, which will be taught by University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Rare Book School pioneer Terry Belanger. The program will be the first in the Western United States to offer "specific rare book and manuscript education and training," and UCLA officials say the venture will increase the number of qualified professionals available to the field.