Introduction

A character in Earle Birney's poem, Bushed, saw "a mountain so big his mind slowed when he looked at it." And most certainly the human mind is "slowed" by the impact of the splendor of our mountains and valleys. When the Writer's of the Columbia Basin pause to interpret our experiences through stories, history, and myth they help to define our sense of place and purpose among those mountains. The Books of the Columbia Basin data base currently contains 169 listings in the form of a abbreviated bibliography. These books are either about the Columbia Basin or by Writer's from the Basin.

The Books of the Columbia Basin project has accomplished the goals which were set out for the project: to raise awareness of the value of our literature and to develop a current and expanding survey of Columbia Basin Literature.

While a short term project can by no means encompass everything that has been written about the Basin area Books of the Columbia Basin does, however, represent a timely and substantial overview recorded at the beginning of the twenty first century. It will be noted some entries are incomplete. If readers have additional information, new listings or corrections they are encouraged to add to the data base. It is hoped that at some time additional work can be accomplished to enliven the search capabilities of data base.

This survey relied on a Basin wide media campaign to encourage residents to bring to the survey's attention books which the people of the Basin felt should be included in such a list. The author of the survey also traveled throughout much of the Basin to record publications available through retail outlets, libraries and museums. The author also drew upon his personal Books of the Columbia Basin collection.

I wish to extend my thanks to the many people who supported the concept and to everyone who participated in the survey. Without your enthusiasm the survey would not be alive today.

This survey did not have as its focus the literature of measurement although it would be wonderful if such a catalog could be made. There are many technical articles, policy documents and factual documents relating to geography, geology or ecology written about the Basin. Many of these types of documents can be found through the provincial libraries system and reading centres, college libraries, government ministries, archives and museums, corporate libraries, or bibliographies.