The Book Publishers Association of Alberta has released a new catalogue and online database designed to get more independently produced books into the hands of educators across the province.

Alberta Books for Schools, a new initiative, is both an annual hard-copy catalogue and online database that includes data about each book such as curriculum connections, subject headings, and grade level. The selected books are evaluated by curriculum mappers from the Alberta Library and include audiobooks and ebooks with enhanced accessibility features.

“With over 150 new titles published every year, Alberta’s independent book publishers contribute to a vast resource of school-appropriate titles that tell Alberta’s story and uplift Alberta’s distinct, diverse voices,” association executive director Kieran Leblanc said in a release. “We are excited to bring this new initiative to educators and librarians across Alberta and Canada to help them discover titles published right in their own backyard.”