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."
Historian Peter Corley-Smith chronicles the provincial museum's accomplishments from 1886, when 30 prominent citizens petitioned the government to establish a provincial museum, to its centenary in 1986. From its modest roots, the museum has grown to become one of the most renowned in North America. But this is a story about the people with the vision to preserve examples of this province's history for generations to come. It's also the story of the people with the imagination and creativity to tell BC's story in a fashion that remains imprinted on the minds and in the hearts of so many visitors. The title comes from the story of the white spirit bear, a discovery brought to public attention in the 1920s by the provincial museum's longest serving director, Francis Kermode.
Peter Corley-Smith (1923-2002) is best known for his books on British Columbia's aviation history, including Barnstorming to Bush Flying: British Columbia's Aviation Pioneers 1910-1930 and Helicopters: The British Columbia Story (with Dave Parker).