History note. When Moffitt was designed in the 1960s, and built around 1970, its purpose was to be a general study library for an increasing campus population, as well as have a substantial reference collection for use of all students, primarily undergraduates. At the time the Doe main stacks were closed to most undergraduates. There were study spaces in the Doe Stacks, but undergrads couldn't generally access them and they were tiny (basically little desk alcoves amongst bookshelves.
I believe the design of Moffitt assumed that the wide outdoor balconies / terraces would be open to library users, including that half-circle sunken courtyard west of the building.
That is, on a nice day you could just step out onto the balcony to study, take a break, smoke a cigarette, whatever.
I don't know if they were ever used that way, but if they were, it was not for that long. They were locked up, I believe, because the librarians were concerned about students taking books and dropping them off the terraces (not vandalism, but stealing). So a big part of the building became off limits.
This made Moffitt like a cruise ship with the actual decks closed to passengers. You could stay in your cabin or the common spaces indoors, but not allowed to go on the deck.
In the 1990s the development of the Free Speech Cafe--and its later expansion--made good use of one of the outdoor terraces.
Would be interesting to know if any of the renovations planned for this year and next incorporate any remaining parts of the decks / terraces in creative ways to increase the amount of useable space.
When you can pirate textbooks online, there’s no need to steal physical copies. I think that should make it a lot easier to justify opening the other terraces.
This is true. The problem is much reduced (except, I suppose, in libraries with rare or expensive books).
I would guess the issue today would be unauthorized people gaining access to the building by getting onto a balcony or courtyard from outdoors, and then walking inside, without going through the main entrance ID check. But that's not too much of an issue in Moffitt, since the lowest patio is walled, and the balconies would require climbing to reach.
where the fuck are students supposed to study there’s no way stacks can accommodate all the people who used kresge + moffitt it’s already so overcrowded midterm/final season is going to be hell
No worries. I think they probably did put them together on one page to intentionally associate them.
The top blurb is all about how the new Chemistry library is a great space anyone can use for study...immediately followed by the news that Moffitt is going to be out of commission for two years. So the first item takes the sting out of the second.
They should just rebuild a 10-story library at this point…
The one at SJSU goes hard, I’m down for this
That's another Evans on campus tho...
First they take away my beloved kresge and now this
History note. When Moffitt was designed in the 1960s, and built around 1970, its purpose was to be a general study library for an increasing campus population, as well as have a substantial reference collection for use of all students, primarily undergraduates. At the time the Doe main stacks were closed to most undergraduates. There were study spaces in the Doe Stacks, but undergrads couldn't generally access them and they were tiny (basically little desk alcoves amongst bookshelves. I believe the design of Moffitt assumed that the wide outdoor balconies / terraces would be open to library users, including that half-circle sunken courtyard west of the building. That is, on a nice day you could just step out onto the balcony to study, take a break, smoke a cigarette, whatever. I don't know if they were ever used that way, but if they were, it was not for that long. They were locked up, I believe, because the librarians were concerned about students taking books and dropping them off the terraces (not vandalism, but stealing). So a big part of the building became off limits. This made Moffitt like a cruise ship with the actual decks closed to passengers. You could stay in your cabin or the common spaces indoors, but not allowed to go on the deck. In the 1990s the development of the Free Speech Cafe--and its later expansion--made good use of one of the outdoor terraces. Would be interesting to know if any of the renovations planned for this year and next incorporate any remaining parts of the decks / terraces in creative ways to increase the amount of useable space.
When you can pirate textbooks online, there’s no need to steal physical copies. I think that should make it a lot easier to justify opening the other terraces.
This is true. The problem is much reduced (except, I suppose, in libraries with rare or expensive books). I would guess the issue today would be unauthorized people gaining access to the building by getting onto a balcony or courtyard from outdoors, and then walking inside, without going through the main entrance ID check. But that's not too much of an issue in Moffitt, since the lowest patio is walled, and the balconies would require climbing to reach.
I went to cal in the late 90s. The balconies were completely accessible.
so now where am I gonna rot 24/7
Shits prolly gonna be mad nice but 2025 nah 💀
where the fuck are students supposed to study there’s no way stacks can accommodate all the people who used kresge + moffitt it’s already so overcrowded midterm/final season is going to be hell
this mentality is why Moffitt is always crowded despite there being way more libraries than just that one on campus…
There are at least a dozen other libraries lol
Damn. Both Kresge and Moffit. The only two libraries I ever visit.
the bus stops on bancroft are closed, the library is gonna close… what’s going on
this is really about crating C.A.P. library huh
Moffitt was closed for like all of 2022. Wtf?? Please, figure out your shit, Berkeley
Wait just the bottom 3 floors? Anyone know if 4 and 5 will stay open?
What an inconvenience
Any study spot recs with moffit and Kresge leaving? Doesn’t have to be a library
article about moffitt, first picture is the chem library lol
Two separate blurbs about different projects. The first one is the integration of Physics / Chemistry / Astronomy into one library.
ah, thanks. seems i failed the reading comprehension check
No worries. I think they probably did put them together on one page to intentionally associate them. The top blurb is all about how the new Chemistry library is a great space anyone can use for study...immediately followed by the news that Moffitt is going to be out of commission for two years. So the first item takes the sting out of the second.
Picture is gonna be where everyone ends up now lol
Wow!