Updated: Feb 10th, 2025

The Library’s Digital Collections Team is excited to share several new projects that make fascinating materials from the archives accessible on the web:

• The Senator James McClure Collection, developed in recognition of his 100th birthday, includes a selection of materials from the University of Idaho Special Collections and Archives that reflect the life and career of Senator McClure.
• Raycide Mosher Civil War Letters present a collection of letters written by Union soldier Raycide Mosher to his Michigan family between 1864 and 1865.
• Latah Legacy Collection makes available the Latah County Historical Society’s long running journal publication, the Latah Legacy. The issues feature articles, reviews, resources, and events that explore the post-colonization history of the region and document the organization’s history.

Updated: Feb 6th, 2025

Applications are now open for two paid summer fellowships working with Special Collections and Archives. These fellowships are opportunities to learn about archival research and practice while completing meaningful hands-on work to increase access to unique materials. For details about the experience and how to apply, please visit the fellowship pages:

• Ben J. Plastino Collection Fellowship
• Gary E. and Carolyn J. Strong Special Collections Fellowship

Applications are due Friday, March 21st by the end of the day!

Updated: Feb 1st, 2025

The University of Idaho Library is proud to announce our new Digital Collections Search! This custom developed platform enables users to keyword search across more than 100 collections and 60,000 items. The interface provides researchers powerful tools, providing facets such as Subject, Location, or Date to filter results, while searching an index containing the full information about items and their full text content.

We invite you to explore our collections in a new way–find relevant historical research, browse fascinating items, and discover hidden treasures!

Updated: Jan 13th, 2025

Previously located in the Janssen Engineering Building (JEB) Room 211, the Computer Science Assistance Center (CSAC) is a community computer science space open to all students taking computer science courses. It is staffed by CS majors who can help with coursework Monday-Friday during fall and spring semester.

Co-locating the CSAC and the Data Hub - which supports data science and programming across the U of I curriculum - will make it easier for students to receive comprehensive support with research and coursework.

For more information, and to view the CSAC tutoring schedule, visit the CS Department Student Services and Data Hub pages.

Updated: Sep 6th, 2024

The University of Idaho Library is excited to announce the launch of VERSO (Vandal Expertise, Research, and Scholarship Online), a cutting-edge research information management (RIM) system and institutional repository (IR) designed to preserve and promote the university’s research and creative output. Built on the powerful Esploro platform by Clarivate, VERSO will serve as the go-to hub for showcasing the expertise of faculty, students, and staff at the University of Idaho.

VERSO offers a seamless way for the University of Idaho community to manage, share, and promote their scholarly and creative works. As a comprehensive RIM system, it collects, preserves, and publishes data on research outputs, honors, grants, and more. By integrating with trusted academic sources and platforms like ORCID and Google Scholar, VERSO ensures that work produced at the University of Idaho reaches a global audience and is easily discoverable.

Key Benefits of VERSO:

• Increased Visibility: VERSO makes research and creative projects more accessible and searchable online, enhancing their visibility.
• Automated Updates: Integrating with external platforms like ORCID and Clarivate’s extensive data index, VERSO automates research output updates and streamlines profile management.
• Departmental Support: VERSO provides analytics to promote department work and preserves research-related products, helping to prevent data loss during faculty or student transitions.

“VERSO represents a major step forward in how we manage and promote the incredible work done at the University of Idaho,” said Ben Hunter, Dean of the University of Idaho Library. “By leveraging the advanced capabilities of the Esploro platform, we are not only preserving our research but also ensuring it has the widest possible impact.”

VERSO replaces the University’s former system, VIVO, which had been maintained and updated by the Library since 2013. Initial funding for the platform was provided by the Library and the Office of Research and Economic Development.

VERSO is now live and available at verso.uidaho.edu. Researchers can log in with their Vandal credentials to access or update their profiles.

To learn more about VERSO or to get started, visit verso.uidaho.edu.

Questions, please contact:
Devin Becker, dbecker@uidaho.edu

Updated: Mar 27th, 2024

Since early 2023, the Open Campus Committee has been focused on an exciting new development that promises to help students make informed choices about their class materials costs. Course materials cost marking is the practice of applying a label or other easily identifiable and searchable facet to classes listed in the class schedule. Starting Summer 2024, students will be able to easily browse Zero and Very Low Cost ($30 or less) classes in the class schedule.

In addition to being an important part of the State Board of Education’s requirements as set forth in 2021’s Instructional Materials Access and Affordability Policy, we are excited for how course marking can help make college costs more affordable and transparent for our Vandals. According to a 2023 study conducted here at the University of Idaho, 60% of undergraduates reported difficulty affording basic living expenses and 47% reported not purchasing a required text because they could not afford it. In national research, open materials have been shown to improve drop, fail, and withdraw rates, with particular benefits noted for Pell Grant and first generation students.

The Library has developed several new digital tools to support faculty in utilizing the new course cost marking system:

• The course cost checking tool is an interactive website that can help you determine if your materials qualify for the Zero or Very Low Cost labels
• The Open at the University of Idaho pressbook lays out on overall view of the open programs and activity supported on campus by the library
• A FAQ with commonly asked questions
• Workflows and guidance for course schedulers

We are very pleased to announce that University of Idaho’s very first Zero and Very Low Cost courses are now marked in the course schedule for summer and fall 2024! If you think your class might be eligible, reach out to your department scheduler or contact Open Education Librarian Marco Seiferle-Valencia at marcsosv@uidaho.edu for more information.