Literary Arts - University of Calgary Press

Known as the ‘heartland publisher', the University of Calgary Press (U of C Press) has a vested interest in books which focus on the Canadian and American West. Titles on history, art, poetry, literature, biographies, and heritage are some of the many topics which pervade the diverse publications of the University of Calgary Press. With help from many dedicated and determined individuals, the U of C Press has grown from a small unknown, into an ever-increasing, vibrant publishing house affiliated with reputable Canadian and international authors.

Throughout the last decade, the U of C Press has experienced increasing success. Between 1998 and 1999, only five books were published; this rose to 27 titles in 2002 along with annual sales of $ 300,000 CDN. The U of C Press has adopted many goals over the years including the desire to help young scholars, to establish markets outside of Canada and to return information and knowledge back to the community.

Along with books and novels, the U of C Press has produced the largest Canadian digital history site ever created. Our Future, Our Past is a dynamic website, with a wide collection of heritage material including a collection of Alberta newspapers, access to Alberta statutes from 1906 to 1990 and Alberta bills from 1950 to 1990, an archival collection of folklore, access to material derived from Western Canadian museum and galleries, and 30,000 air photos of primarily Albertan urban areas. The U of C Press has also developed the Our Roots website which allows viewers to easily access information using key words, dates, subjects or authors of interest. This resource explores Canadian landscapes, resources, and people in depth.

While it is a scholarly press, those associated with the U of C Press believe the books they publish benefit more than just the academic community, and are an important resource for government, business, industry and the larger community.