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Idaho Librarian

The Farrit Project

Jim Jatkevicious

           FARRIT stands for "Finding All Resources Relating to Idaho Topics". It is both a Web page and a symbol for a loose cooperative of libraries that share information on special Idaho collections.

           The cooperative currently consists of representatives of the following libraries: Boise State University’s Albertsons Library, Boise Public Library, Ada Community Library, Idaho State Historical Society Library and Archives, Idaho State Library, and the Caldwell Public Library. The group began meeting in the Fall of 1998, shepherded by Marj Hooper of the State Library and Rosemary Cooper of the Boise Public Library, to discuss the care and maintenance of  special collections of Idaho-related materials. Eventually, the Web page was developed as a method of collecting links and original content about the activities of the participating libraries in regards to Idaho information and materials. Currently, there are bibliographies, favorite Idaho book lists, collection information, searchable obituary indexes, and links and information regarding maps and environmental impact statements. Our current shepherd and facilitator is Erin McCusker of the State Library.

            FARRIT was taken on the road in April of 2003 when Ellen Druckenbrod and Jim Jatkevicius presented information on the group and the Web page at the ILA Regional Conference in Twin Falls.

            Our current focus, in addition to developing more bibliographies and favorite Idaho book lists, is to find funding for a collaborative digitization project to place historical materials from the Idaho Statesman and other local sources on the Web. Meanwhile, we will continue to identify, link to, and develop other resources as time permits.

            All Idaho libraries are invited to participate in making FARRIT a useful tool for all Idaho libraries. The url for FARRIT is http://www.lili.org/farrit. Send your comments to Jim Jatkevicius (jjatkevicius@cityofboise.org) or Ellen Druckenbrod (edruckenbrod@cityofboise.org) at the Boise Public Library.