Cultural History of the Book: The Gutenberg Era Field of study: Scientific Information and Library Science
Programme code: W1-N1BN19.2.2025

Module name: Cultural History of the Book: The Gutenberg Era
Module code: W1-BN-N1-KHKG03
Programme code: W1-N1BN19.2.2025
Semester: winter semester 2026/2027
Language of instruction: Polish
Form of verification: course work
ECTS credits: 2
Purpose and description of the content of education:
The student will acquire knowledge about the development of the form and function of hand-printed books from the 16th to the end of the 18th century. They will be able to identify and describe the key actors of the historical book market and, based on this, define the broadly understood role of the book in culture. The student will learn about the circulation of printed (authors, publishers, printers, censorship authorities, booksellers, bookbinders) and manuscript books in the context of culture and social communication in early modern times. Upon completing the module, the student will also be able to use terminology related to the evolution of the book in the 16th–18th centuries and apply it to describe bibliological and cultural processes, understood in the context of the development of book studies and the humanities.
List of modules that must be completed before starting this module (if necessary): not applicable
Learning outcome of the module Codes of the learning outcomes of the programme to which the learning outcome of the module is related [level of competence: scale 1-5]
Based on knowledge about the functioning of books, institutions, and book people in the society of the 16th - 18th centuries and the relationships between them, the student can recognize research problems and propose solutions [KHKG03_3]
 K_U01 [4/5]
The student has knowledge of the key role of the book, its creators, recipients, and institutions in the processes of communication and the creation of humanity’s cultural heritage. The student is familiar with the forms of early books and the stages of their development, and is acquainted with the literature related to these topics. They know the terminology related to the evolution of the book in the 15th–18th centuries and related areas (institutions, professionals, production, book art, and the book market). [KHKG03​_1]
 K_W02 [5/5] K_W04 [5/5]
Student is able to independently acquire knowledge and develop research skills, using different types of sources and works of different authors. He/she is able to use knowledge about the evolution of the book XV-XVIII century, constructing statements, creating research postulates, solving problems that face them, developing existing knowledge and skills in this area. [KHKG03​_2]
 K_U08 [4/5]
The student identifies various types of products of book culture among the products of human activity and confronts them with his knowledge, and then applies it to improving the quality of work in book institutions [KHKG03​_4]
 K_U02 [4/5]
Student is open to new ideas, ready to change his/her mind in the light of new knowledge. He/she is aware of the responsibility for preserving cultural heritage associated with the printed word in GLAM institutions, and is ready to create and implement projects related to the Gutenberg era book. [KHKG03​_5]
 K_K04 [2/5] K_K06 [4/5]
Form of teaching Number of hours Methods of conducting classes Assessment of the learning outcomes Learning outcomes
laboratory classes [KHKG03_fs_1] 10 Lecture-discussion [b02] 
Screen presentation [c07] 
Individual work with a text [f02]  		course work KHKG03_3 KHKG03​_1 KHKG03​_2 KHKG03​_4 KHKG03​_5
The student's work, apart from participation in classes, includes in particular:
Name Category Description
Literature reading / analysis of source materials [a02] Preparation for classes
reading the literature indicated in the syllabus; reviewing, organizing, analyzing and selecting source materials to be used in class
Consulting materials complementary to those indicated in the syllabus [a04] Preparation for classes
agreeing on materials complementary to those indicated in the syllabus, supporting the implementation of tasks resulting from or necessary for class participation
Determining the stages of task implementation contributing to the verification of learning outcomes [c01] Preparation for verification of learning outcomes
devising a task implementation strategy embracing the division of content, the range of activities, implementation time and/or the method(s) of obtaining the necessary materials and tools, etc.
Implementation of an individual or group assignment necessary for course/phase/examination completion [c03] Preparation for verification of learning outcomes
a set of activities aimed at performing an assigned task, to be executed out of class, as an obligatory phase/element of the verification of the learning outcomes assigned to the course
Attachments
Module description (PDF)
Information concerning module syllabuses might be changed during studies.
Syllabuses (USOSweb)
Semester Module Language of instruction
(no information given)