Hello Robert,

installing NetBSD is not so difficult as long as you read carefully how 
to do it !
For a late 2001 ibook you'll need to look for the latest snapshot :

ftp://ftp.netbsd.org/pub/NetBSD/arch/macppc/snapshot/20011221-1.5ZA/

You will have to create new slices on your disk, it is to say you will 
need to reinstall macos and/or macosx too.

Then you'll need to put
ofwboot.xcf , netbsd.GENERIC_MD.gz
on your macos partition

Then boot to get the openfirmware prompt and type
boot hd:9,ofwboot.xcf hd:9,/netbsd.GENERIC_MD.gz (for eg. hd 9 is your 
first macos partition).

Just follow the document ( boot the GENERIC_MD kernel, create filesystem 
on your netbsd dedicated slice(s), mount , edit with cat ( sic!) your 
fstab , install the system ( i choose the ftp install, rather easy but 
you'll need the right path to the snapshot ,etc..)
again : *JUST READ & FOLLOW  THE DOC*

Now you'll save much time because we now have a working kernel ( ie. 
you'll be able to use your keyboard :) ) here it is :

http://philobsd.free.fr/NetBSD/netbsd.IBOOK.gz

( it's a GENERIC kernel from -current with INSECURE and OFB_CACHE_ENABLE 
options)

put it on your macos slice and boot simply :

boot hd:9,ofwboot.xcf hd:9,/netbsd.IBOOK.gz

Now you have a working system to begin with ...

For me there are still some issues as i don't use a QWERTY keyboard but 
a french AZERTY one (no | and ~ keys while in console ; still unable to 
get a french keyboard on XFree86-4.2, quittting XFree86 server dumps 
crap colours on your console ..)

But it's stable & fast & i must admit i didn't have time yet, to try to 
fix them.

Once more, read the documentation, my explanations were given only to 
describe (roughly) how to install NetBSD on your ibook so that you 
could  get an idea of the process.

Jean-Baptiste.