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Books go Beta at select B.C. libraries

Digital books are being touted as the next big thing in the publishing industry and now, it's looking like B.C. is getting in on the action with the launch last week of B.C. Books Online, a pilot project e-book collection.

Digital books are being touted as the next big thing in the publishing industry and now, it's looking like B.C. is getting in on the action with the launch last week of B.C. Books Online, a pilot project e-book collection.

In 2007, a group of library organizations and publishers began working on a project to deliver a digital collection of B.C.-published books throughout the province. The concept was inspired by the vision of the Libraries Without Walls strategic planning document initiated by Premier Gordon Campbell in 2004, supporting equitable access to all B.C. residents through Internet technologies and collaboration between libraries and the private sector. The resulting collection includes a broad range of non-fiction titles from B.C. publishers that are intended to engage readers and allow them to explore the history and culture of the province.

The program was launched at just 12 libraries throughout the province: Central Okanagan School District #23, College of New Caledonia, Nanaimo School District #68, North Island College, Prince George Public Library, Prince George School District #57, Richmond Public Library, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, University of Northern B.C., Vancouver Island Regional Library and the Vancouver Public Library. But the plan is to eventually expand and offer a digital collection of B.C. published books to more libraries in the future.

The B.C. Books Online consortium is looking for funding that would allow them to deliver the collection to all libraries in British Columbia in 2012.

More information about the project can be found at: www.bcbooksonline.ca.

 

The Summer of Funny returns

Think you've got what it takes to make people hoot and howl with laughter? Pick up that pen and paper and show Whistler what you've got by entering the second annual Summer of Funny humour-writing contest, sponsored by Pique Newsmagazine .

The inaugural competition in '09 yielded so many quality submissions that Pique staffers couldn't seem to agree on a clear winner. So it was decided to divide the $400 prize purse among the eight entries that stood out from the more than two-dozen pieces received. And since none of the writers complained, Pique has decided to give the contest another whirl this year. The rules are the same - all written submissions will be accepted, from anywhere in Canada, and can be in the form of stories (up to 2,000 words), poems, plays/scripts, or long-format jokes. We'd even accept cartoons.

The prize money will be the same, as will the review by Pique writers and staff. If there is a clear winner this year they may receive a larger share of the purse at our discretion, otherwise we may decide to simply run a wide selection of pieces this year and divvy up the prize money equally. Humour is subjective after all, and we'd like to give our readers a chance to decide.

Send all entries to andrew@piquenewsmagazine.com before July 22 for inclusion in our B.C. Day long weekend issue (published July 28). Please include a brief bio and mailing address with your submission.

Waxing poetic

For the 17th year running, the Poetry Institute of Canada is on the lookout for the best new and original Canadian poetry and short stories. In return for the best literary finds, they're offering up cash prizes and prestige, of course.

The institute is calling for poets of any age, previously published or not, who are interested in entering poems into their annual competition at no charge. They're also hunting for great short stories (up to 850 words in length) to include in an anthology that showcases the best entries received. Not only will winning writers have their work published, but they'll also receive a cash prize for their efforts.

Entries must be received by July 30. Submissions should be sent to poetryinstitute@shaw.ca.

 

Between Shifts' Short Cutz

Theatrical junkies looking for a quick fix should head to the Brackendale Art Gallery next weekend when Squamish's Between Shifts Theatre troupe presents six evenings of one-act comedies. The lineup includes a spoof on the Hardy Boys mysteries written by Christopher Durang and more original plays by a local playwright.

The production, dubbed Short Cutz: A Night of Comedy, runs Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings May 27 through June 5.

Tickets are $12 at Billie's Bouquet, BAG and The Bookshelf. They will also be available for purchase at the door.

 

Annual artistic meeting of the minds

The Whistler Arts Council is holding its Annual General Meeting at Scotia Creek Gallery in MY Millennium Place on Wednesday, June 2 at 5 p.m.

The agenda for the meeting includes changes to WAC's constitution and bylaws that relate to the merging of WAC and MY Millennium Place. For more information on the merger, see the full story on page 82.

WAC will present the revisions to the constitution and bylaws and appoint Sue Adams, a former director of MY Place, to the WAC board until 2013 to ensure representation from the MY Millennium Place Society.

 

Stock up on summer reading this weekend

Booklovers have been taking their spring cleaning very seriously this year, opting to purge even their beloved bookshelves.

The Friends of the Whistler Library have already collected a huge number of books from the community to sell at their biannual Giant Used Book Sale, which takes place on Saturday, May 22 in front of the IGA from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The sale always includes a wide range of materials, including children's books, fiction, non-fiction, DVDs and videos, which are all sold by donation with proceeds going towards the Whistler Public Library.