Hoover Institution
Everything about the Hoover Institution signals it is place of significance and deserving of reverence. Learning is a distant afterthought.
The Tower View
Front entrance
Front entrance (again)
It's impressive on the outside and inside...
The inner sanctum of Hoover
As is the culture of library space, talking above a hushed tone is verboten.
Get the picture?
Learning of a certain type is accommodated (quite frankly, more like "tolerated"). My pictures end here because I was informed that photographs are not allowed inside the library. The rationale for the policy has been left to my imagination because the librarian simply didn't know (she did however close the glass double doors to the library to signal it was off limits to my lens). The 'authorities' that were contacted for more information were not available. I was allowed to walk around the space (lucky me!) but unfortunately I have nothing to show for it.
In summary however, libraries generally are optimized for low-interaction, autonomous learning – or in the language of the Danish Architects, the space is characterized by individual ‘cells’ (ironic). The Hoover library strictly adheres to this tradition. There are broad study desks with single chairs that would afford the 'spreading' of documents, books, and other materials. Although there are large tables with multiple chairs surrounding them, it did not appear these were by any stretch "collaborative work areas". The anti-talking policy would nix that.
Overall, as a true learning space, the Hoover Institution leaves much to be desired. Knowledge is power, guarded, protected, and largely inert on dusty shelves. The sign as you enter the library says it all, "This building is dedicated to the collection of books...". Stanford might as well get a warehouse off the 101 and save on the overhead.