What is the importance of the Xiao-Wen Chou archive in the novel, Disorientation?

The Xiao-Wen Chou archive is located on the Barnes University campus. The archive was erected following Chou's death, and is located in the basement of the main library. The archive is also the place where Ingrid spends most of her time at the start of the novel. Despite all of the time she devotes to studying Chou in this location, Ingrid's efforts feel like a waste. Everything changes, however, when she discovers that an archive visitor has left her a curious note on her papers. After studying the visitor log and stealing the archive donor sheet, Ingrid learns this visitor was John Smith.