Eli M. Oboler Library
Encyclopedia
The Eli M. Oboler Library serves the students and faculty of Idaho State University
, as well as the local community of Pocatello, Idaho
.
As of 2000, the library's collection contained nearly a million books, periodicals, and government documents; more than 35,000 microfilm reels; more than a million microfiche and micro-cards; 44,000 maps; and nearly 3,000 periodical and newspaper titles.
The current library building was completed in time for the 1977 fall semester. Designed by Sundberg and Associates, the library cost just over 5 million dollars. Because of the limited funding available at the time, the library director and other faculty conducted a campaign—involving bumper stickers, billboards, and letters to the editors of Idaho newspapers—to convince the state legislature to fund the new library. In 1983, the library was named for long-time university librarian Eli M. Oboler
.
At the time of its completion, the library was "the largest academic building in the state" at 175000 square feet (16,258 m²) and housing 300,000 volumes on 15 miles (24.1 km) of shelving.
The Eli M. Oboler Library has been a federal depository
since 1908.
and the surrounding area.
The oldest printed book in the Rare Books Collection is The Sermons of Maister John Calvin
on the Booke of Job, printed in 1584. There are other books in the collection thought to be older, but their provenance
is incomplete.
, Bannock County, and southeastern Idaho
. The second is the Edward Stevenson Collection, a searchable database of images and costume drawings by Edward Stevenson, a long-time Hollywood costume
r. These two archives can be found on the Special Collections Online page http://www.isu.edu/library/special/sconline.htm. Last, a digital collection of works by Samuel Johnson
and his contemporaries http://www.isu.edu/jhnsnbooks/index.htm. This archive is still under construction.
Idaho State University
Idaho State University is a public university located in Pocatello, Idaho. It has outreach programs in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Falls, Boise, and Twin Falls....
, as well as the local community of Pocatello, Idaho
Pocatello, Idaho
Pocatello is the county seat and largest city of Bannock County, with a small portion on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in neighboring Power County, in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Idaho. It is the principal city of the Pocatello metropolitan area, which encompasses all of Bannock...
.
As of 2000, the library's collection contained nearly a million books, periodicals, and government documents; more than 35,000 microfilm reels; more than a million microfiche and micro-cards; 44,000 maps; and nearly 3,000 periodical and newspaper titles.
History
A library has been in place at Idaho State University almost since its creation at the turn of the century. Between 1902 and 1924, the library occupied merely one large room in the now demolished Swanson Hall. In 1925, the growing library moved to Frazier Hall. When the library outgrew its location in Frazier Hall, a new, four-story building, now the Museum building, was constructed and the library moved again in 1954. However, the library rapidly exceeded even this new building's capacity.The current library building was completed in time for the 1977 fall semester. Designed by Sundberg and Associates, the library cost just over 5 million dollars. Because of the limited funding available at the time, the library director and other faculty conducted a campaign—involving bumper stickers, billboards, and letters to the editors of Idaho newspapers—to convince the state legislature to fund the new library. In 1983, the library was named for long-time university librarian Eli M. Oboler
Eli M. Oboler
Eli M. Oboler was head librarian at the Idaho State University library, later Eli M. Oboler Library from 1949 to 1980. He was also a member of the Idaho Library Association and the Pacific Northwest Library Association, and served as president for both organizations.Oboler held degrees from both...
.
At the time of its completion, the library was "the largest academic building in the state" at 175000 square feet (16,258 m²) and housing 300,000 volumes on 15 miles (24.1 km) of shelving.
The Eli M. Oboler Library has been a federal depository
Federal depository library
The Federal Depository Library Program is a United States program created to make U.S. federal government publications available to the public at no cost. As of June 2008, there are 1,252 depository libraries in the United States and its territories. A "government publication" is defined in the U.S...
since 1908.
Arthur P. Oliver Law Library
Previously located at the Bannock County Courthouse Annex, the Arthur P. Oliver Law Library is now on the first floor of the Oboler Library and contains court reporters, state and federal codes, and legal research materials.Distance locations
The Oboler Library maintains satellite locations in Boise and Idaho Falls to support Idaho State University distance students.Idaho Health Sciences Library
The Idaho Health Sciences Library http://www.isu.edu/library/ihsl/ is located on the third floor of the Oboler Library. The IHSL fields health and health professions questions from ISU students, faculty, and local health providers. Also once located on the 3rd floor was the infamous Tridaho, established as a refuge for astray men, was destroyed in July of 2010 and members were forced to disparse similar to their native friends of the yesteryears. The ISHL was created in the early 1990s and is a member of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine. http://nnlm.gov/Special Collections
Located in the basement of the Oboler Library, Special Collections http://www.isu.edu/library/special/ houses the library's rare books, manuscripts and historic photograph collections, and the University Archives. Special Collections also houses the Inter-mountain West Collection, composed of hundreds of hard-to-find titles chronicling the history of southern IdahoIdaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
and the surrounding area.
The oldest printed book in the Rare Books Collection is The Sermons of Maister John Calvin
John Calvin
John Calvin was an influential French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. Originally trained as a humanist lawyer, he broke from the Roman Catholic Church around 1530...
on the Booke of Job, printed in 1584. There are other books in the collection thought to be older, but their provenance
Provenance
Provenance, from the French provenir, "to come from", refers to the chronology of the ownership or location of an historical object. The term was originally mostly used for works of art, but is now used in similar senses in a wide range of fields, including science and computing...
is incomplete.
Special Collections' digital archives
Special Collections also has three digital archives. One, the Bannock County Images project is a searchable database of historic images of PocatelloPocatello, Idaho
Pocatello is the county seat and largest city of Bannock County, with a small portion on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation in neighboring Power County, in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Idaho. It is the principal city of the Pocatello metropolitan area, which encompasses all of Bannock...
, Bannock County, and southeastern Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. The second is the Edward Stevenson Collection, a searchable database of images and costume drawings by Edward Stevenson, a long-time Hollywood costume
Costume
The term costume can refer to wardrobe and dress in general, or to the distinctive style of dress of a particular people, class, or period. Costume may also refer to the artistic arrangement of accessories in a picture, statue, poem, or play, appropriate to the time, place, or other circumstances...
r. These two archives can be found on the Special Collections Online page http://www.isu.edu/library/special/sconline.htm. Last, a digital collection of works by Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson , often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer...
and his contemporaries http://www.isu.edu/jhnsnbooks/index.htm. This archive is still under construction.