BC Books Online was created for anyone interested in BC-published books, and with librarians especially in mind. We'd like to make it easy for library staff to learn about books from BC publishers - both new releases and backlist titles - so you can inform your patrons and keep your collections up to date.
Our site features print books and ebooks - both new releases and backlist titles - all of which are available to order through regular trade channels. Browse our subject categories to find books of interest or create and export lists by category to cross-reference with your library's current collection.
A quick tip: When reviewing the "Browse by Category" listings, please note that these are based on standardized BISAC Subject Codes supplied by the books' publishers. You will find additional selections, grouped by theme or region, in our "BC Reading Lists."
Buckle up your seatbelt and prepare for a ride on the history highway! Christopher Garrish has collected hundreds of facts and photos (not to mention licence plates) in this astonishing assembly of motoring madness. Discover what the earliest motorists in the province used to build their own licence plates; why some licence plate numbers are worth waiting in line overnight for; which offensive acronym slipped under the radar and found its way onto a licence plate before authorities recalled it; and dozens of other entertaining anecdotes.
Whether you’re a car connoisseur or a tailgating trucker, you’ll find that Tales from the Back Bumper is more than just an ABC-123 account of licence plates. This book is not only the definitive guide to everything from plate prefixes and decals to provincial slogans and vanity plates, but also a fascinating, behind-the-scenes look at how cars—and by extension licence plates—have played a part in our exploration and navigation of “Beautiful British Columbia” for the past hundred years.
"This is not just a book of licence plate illustrations; it is a fascinating history of BC, automobiles, government regulations, travel, and transportation . . . A well documented, well illustrated book." —BC Books for BC Schools
"This book will appeal to a popular audience and to historians who are interested in government agencies, bureaucratic monitoring, and the everyday iconography of British Columbia." —Ben Bradley, BCStudies
Much more than a list of colors, photos, and tables of types, this book sets a new level for a history book around a jurisdiction . . . this is a must-have for every collector.” —Jeff Minard, Plates magazine
What a treat! Who knew our humble licence plates were once made of leather—even porcelin? Who knew that a handful of letters and digits could tell so many stories? From WE-LOG to MY-XTC—a century's worth of wacky licence plates from Canada's wackiest province. —Arthur Black, author and broadcaster
The book is full of interesting stories and facts . . . a wonderful gift for any vehicle enthusiast. . . . I don’t want to give away all of the incredible research that has gone into this fascinating book, so I suggest you buy a copy. I couldn’t put it down until I finished it from cover to cover. —Nigel Matthews, the Province