The University of California at Berkeley has built nothing short of a vast underground empire of books. The old, dark, decrepit, densely-stacked and overall Baker-esque facility that long served as the campus's central storehouse of books was closed down last fall. In its place the University has unveiled Doe library's grand new stacks. And what a sight they are.
Doe's new appearance is indeed marvelous. A great staircase with fine, thickly-glossed wooden railings spirals four stories into the earth. Each level of stacks is fresh, bright and sprawling. There are elevators here, in addition to pay phones, restrooms, conference rooms a-plenty, computer terminals all over, hundreds of places to work (with a lamp, power outlet and network connector at each individual's table space) and, of course, lots of books. So many books, in fact, that Berkeley's collection figures in the nation's three largest -- along with Harvard and the Library of Congress.
Dartmouth obviously cannot and should not attempt to mimic the size of this facility. But the design philosophy behind U.C. Berkeley's new construction holds important lessons for the architects of future Dartmouth -- lessons that will prove especially relevant in the building of the College's planned Berry library.
Doe gives us a glimpse of the "library of the future," a phrase the Dartmouth administration once used to describe what Berry will be when completed. In many ways Dartmouth envisions Berry as a facility on the cutting edge of information storage and retrieval services; in addition to this, however, Doe shows us the importance of a beautiful work environment for an academic community.
Berkeley's new stacks invite students to work among books in a plush environment -- to pursue research and read for pleasure in a setting that encourages constant contact with the volumes containing human existence's great ideas. Dartmouth College needs this type of environment.
Currently, Baker's stacks serve only two functions: As a place from where students may grab books (and then quickly run out to avoid the oppressive dinginess), or as a place where they may go to isolate themselves for studying. Either way, the environment in Baker does not seem too welcoming.
There is a very different attitude engendered by the new setting of Doe library. The stacks themselves here are not something one can use for the purpose of tucking away into isolation, since they provide no cover for hidden students. The library is far too spacious for that.
Instead, studying among books becomes a very different experience. I found myself going to the terminals, looking up all kinds of volumes, collecting the materials, working with them and collecting still more. All in one place.
And those who prefer working with people around them may do so in a bright and modern environment -- without the Class of 1902 Room's decaying couches or the Reserve Corridor's corroding tables.
The $30 million donation that allowed Dartmouth to plan for Berry library constitutes the single largest gift in the College's history. Berry shall be placed in the heart of campus, right behind Baker; and the movement of Special Collections into Webster Hall is planned to accommodate the new construction.
Not surprisingly, then, the proposal for Dartmouth's new library has ruffled more than a few feathers. Those against further expansion of the College see Berry as the centerpiece of a larger project they believe will ruin Dartmouth forever. The Dartmouth Review likes to believe it leads the charge against this alleged "Dartvard," but that publication's editorial stance is hard to pin down. At times The Review says current building plans are fine, but that students and alumni must keep a careful watch on all further efforts. Elsewhere The Review has written on the dangers of any expansion at all.
This is confusion at best, and wholly understandable. Berry has the potential to be an incredible resource, but the College administration has not been effective at communicating its vision -- any vision -- to the Dartmouth community. President Freedman and College spokesman Alex Huppe have even made mildly conflicting remarks on the library's purpose, allowing The Review to take a few shots and leaving the rest of us without excited anticipation.
It seems the excitement must instead come from elsewhere, and U.C. Berkeley's new Doe library is exciting indeed. With a more articulate administration and more constructive input from the College's various groups, even Dartmouth College could have great reason to be excited.
