PREFACE.

In April, 1908, as the result of informal correspondence among librarians of the Pacific Northwest, it was decided to prepare a co-operative library check-list of books and pamphlets relating to the region. The plan agreed upon was that each library should furnish a card list of its own items and that these lists so prepared should be combined into a single alphabet and published. The University of Washington Library offered its services as a medium of communication and all correspondence relative to the work has been carried on through this institution.

Tentative specifications covering scope and form of entry were sent to representative libraries for suggestions and criticisms. As soon as replies were received from all, final rules, representing the expressed wishes of a majority of the collaborators, were prepared and sent to each contributing library.

The scope of the check-list, as determined by this preliminary canvas, was made to include all books and pamphlets relating to the history of that geographical area lying north of California and west of the Rocky mountains, including the states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana, together with British Columbia, Alaska and, the Yukon. The word history has been used in its broadest sense, including a wide range of literature bearing upon the region, such as description, travel, fiction, and works written from the scientific or commercial standpoint.

The following classes of material have been excluded: 1. Manuscripts.

2. State documents, because listed in Bowker's State Publications.

3. Federal documents, to which there is some clue through government indexes.

4. Periodicals published in the region, except those devoted mainly or entirely to history, such as historical magazines. Serials, however, as year-books, proceedings and transactions of societies have been included as a part of the institutional history of the region.