By reviewing the survey the reader will become familiar with publications which have as their subject the modern history and culture of the Basin: what happened, where, when and to whom. For those interested in reading about or researching Basin culture this survey should serve as a useful and interesting reading guide. It is noted that pre-history information is scant, and that much the First Nations heritage information is yet to be published or exists in the form of archives and ethno-historic materials. Fortunately work in this area is proceeding with books like akxamis qapi qapsin (Ktunaxa) All Living Things (English) by Michael Keefer and Pete McCoy, an ethnobotony study, which was recently published.

The Books of the Columbia Basin data base can be searched by author, title, subject and category.

Books of the Columbia Basin is a Living Landscapes project funded by the Royal British Columbia Museum and the Columbia Basin Trust to gather cultural, economic and environmental information about the Basin area and in time make this information readily available on an inter-active web site.

The Books of the Columbia Basin project ran an extensive basin wide media campaign to raise awareness of the value of our literature. Unfortunately some of our heritage literature has already been lost. And sadly only a few of our libraries, reading centres and museums throughout the Basin have a section specifically dedicated to preserving or featuring Basin Books.

I believe this project has given considerable food for thought throughout the Basin with regards to preserving and publicizing Basin literature. As well, it may have caused the people of the valley's to consider the importance of our written history and interpretive literature.

Many positive responses were received, especially from the general public in regard to the timeliness and need for creating a Books of the Basin library. Our historical societies are working hard at this time on local and family histories and they are concerned that their products should be made available but also that some permanent record or keeping place of their endeavors be made. Even though we can not afford a Basin library we have at this time at least a data base to draw upon for the whereabouts of books. People in the tourism sector were quick to recognize the value of such a survey as they often receive inquiries in regard to the history of the area. They immediately saw the potential of linking customers to the Books of the Columbia Basin site.

Most collections such as libraries or museums felt they were too short staffed and under funded to participate in the survey therefore this sector is most certainly under represented, however, I feel this beginning is substantial and hopefully as the Living Landscapes project proceeds, both funding for archival work and for links to current bibliographies will be made. In the original Books of the Columbia Basin proposal a budget item for surveying our institutions was included.

Books of the Columbia Basin is a beginning in terms of publicizing and raising interest in the value of our written cultural resources. It is hope that as the web site is developed that the site will be interactive so that additions can be made to the survey by our Writer's, Publisher's, Public and Historians.