The University of California Libraries: A Plan for Development (1977)

182 The University of California Libraries
of existing libraries, and project planning guides should take this
possibility into account.
There are also several specific instances in which it appears
that campus capital improvement programs are warranted for reasons
other than lack of space:
• At Berkeley, the Doe Library, constructed in the early years
of the century, is poorly arranged, expensive to maintain, and increaseingly
expensive to alter in order to provide even minimal service
facilities. It is one of the few remaining university libraries in
the country with closed stacks, necessary because of the design of
the building. Most seriously of all, it is unsafe, both for the
occupants (users and staff) and for the collections. In the event
of even a moderate earthquake--and the building is very close to the
Hayward fault--there is likely to be considerable loss of life, and
large portions of the collections would be destroyed. A project planning
guide should be submitted for a new library building, and
consideration given to alternative uses of Doe. Among the possibilities
that should be considered, of course, is the feasibility
of remodelling it to serve as the Northern regional compact shelving
facility, although a superficial analysis indicates that it is unlikely
that it can be economically adapted to this function.
• At Davis, the main (Shields) library, constructed in 1939
with additions in 1964 and 1967, is (in one writer's words) "a series
of mistakes." It is poorly arranged for both the users and the staff,
so that adequate service is difficult to offer. Whether remodelling
the present facility would correct the deficiencies or whether a new
structure is needed is at present unclear, but a project planning
guide should be developed in consonance with the recommendations in
this plan.
• At San Francisco, consideration should be given to the question
of whether the existing facilities are adequate, once littleused
materials are transferred to the regional center. It appears
likely that some remodelling and renovation will be necessary, and
a project planning guide should be developed for this purpose.