“Working together, our librarians and publishers are bringing a collection of riches created by British Columbian authors to people in every corner of the province. The BC Books Online project is an inspired way of combining technology with the great legacy of reading our own stories and exploring our own history.” — Peter Milroy, director of University of British Columbia Press.
It is appropriate that this unique project would emerge in BC, the home to some of the most innovative, energetic, and entrepreneurial publishers in the country and to a thriving writing community. Over 1200 regional, national, and international titles are published in this province each year in a wide range of genres. BC published writers and artists such as Douglas Coupland, David Suzuki, and Bill Reid have international reputations. Others such as M. Wylie Blanchet, Roderick Haig-Brown, and Terry Glavin represent the best of writing about our province. Aboriginal writers and those from BC’s ethnic communities produce a literary culture of rich diversity and historical relevance.
“The staff and users of British Columbia libraries are delighted that BC books are now properly represented in the increasingly important world of digital content. BC Books Online is a crucial first step in ensuring that students and general readers of all ages have internet access to the books that best represent our province: its history, peoples, nature, and culture. ” — City Librarian, Paul Whitney (Vancouver Public Library).
The BC Books Online Consortium is pleased to include school libraries in the project. The K-12 sector particularly needs BC materials to enhance curriculum resources.
“As educators we understand the value and importance of resources that reflect the experiences of our students. This forward-thinking project will further enhance school library collections by providing BC materials in a range of subject matter that can be accessed online both from the school itself and from the student’s home. The digital world is our new reality and BC is at the forefront in providing good, regionally developed materials,” says Judy Dallas, executive director, Educational Resource Acquisition Consortium.
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