ORONO — Teachers, researchers, historians, genealogists and Franco-Americans, among others, now have access to a new online bibliographical website to connect them to references and resources about everything Franco-American.

Created through and collaboratively managed at the University of Maine Franco-American Centre, the new Franco-American virtual library at http://francolib.francoamerican.org/ contains lists and links to journal articles, published papers, dissertations, biographies, fiction and nonfiction, periodicals, artwork and audio and video materials about Franco-American life, culture and history.

The project is a unique endeavor, according to Franco-American Centre Director Yvon Labbe, because it is designed for use by members of all communities, in addition to Franco-Americans. Furthermore, scholars are invited to add to the website anything they believe to be of relevance to Franco-American culture and history. 

“What’s unique here isn’t just the content,” Labbe said in a press release. “It’s the process, as well. I find this whole thing very exciting, because Maine has not always been successful in mirroring Maine for Maine.”

A third of the state’s population is Franco-American, according to Labbe and English professor Tony Brinkley, a senior faculty associate of the centre.

Brinkley said the new website is a significant transition for the Franco-American Centre because it is taking 40 years’ worth of work at the centre and putting it online, where it is universally accessible.

“As things go out and are accessible, it will have an impact on teachers and students in public schools,” Labbe said, adding that it will be a much quicker dissemination process than revising and publishing printed material like textbooks.

“Up until now, there has been no way to find things written about Franco-Americans,” Susan Pinette, director of Franco-American studies at UMaine, said. “This resource has been sorely needed by everyone — both academic and community-based researchers.”