As a biomedical librarian with over 30 years of experience supporting British Columbian physicians, I want to highlight the critical role of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC (CPSBC) Library and address the profound impact of its closure in 2024, as expressed in letters from physicians and librarians to the BC Medical Journal.

Since 1960, CPSBC librarians have supported physicians in maintaining their medical knowledge and practice standards. My mentor, former CPSBC Library director Bill Fraser,[1] emphasized that librarians’ value to medicine was undeniable, and that it could be demonstrated. As Dr Caitlin Dunne said, “In losing the Library, we’ve lost a valuable member of our health care team.”[2] Other physicians, such as Dr Margo S. Clarke, have noted that without librarian-mediated access to full-text articles, especially for rare or emerging conditions, staying current would be more difficult.[3] Dr Teresa Marie Kope highlighted the personal impact of the Library closure, citing her reliance on librarians for searches, training, and the Cites & Bytes newsletter.[4] Librarians Rachael Bradshaw, Melissa Caines, and Jane Jun from the Health Libraries Association of BC said that equating library value with usage metrics was shortsighted and overlooked the value of services such as rapid clinical searches and systematic review support, which are not easily replaced.[5]

Recommendations

To preserve evidence-based support, the CPSBC should consider the following recommendations:

• Hire a consulting medical librarian for workshops. Contract a professional medical librarian to deliver regular virtual or in-person workshops on search techniques using databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane, as well as artificial intelligence tools like Elicit and Undermind.
• Establish a BCMJ column authored by a medical librarian. Create a monthly column in the BCMJ, authored by a contracted librarian (at professional rates), to share search strategies, introduce new tools, and provide practical guidance for integrating information skills into clinical practice.
• Hire a medical librarian to curate online resources on the CPSBC website. Develop a dedicated section on the CPSBC website with searchable guides, quick-reference tips, video tutorials, and curated links to high-quality evidence, ensuring access to reliable sources.

Evidence-based return on investment

As Dr Dunne noted, tasks such as mentoring trainees and preparing lectures for professional meetings are more time-consuming without a librarian’s support.[6] For physicians unaffiliated with UBC’s medical school and without access to BC’s health authority libraries, the CPSBC closure has created significant service gaps. At UBC’s Biomedical Branch Library at Vancouver General Hospital, I’ve seen increased demand from CPSBC members—some with UBC affiliation, some without. Not all BC physicians have access to a qualified librarian or the resources of a decent medical library.
By implementing the recommended low-cost interim measures, the CPSBC can help mitigate the impact of the Library’s closure and reinforce the CPSBC’s commitment to evidence-based practice.
—Dean Giustini, MLS, MEd
UBC Biomedical Branch Librarian

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References

1.    Giustini D. A tribute to Bill (Colin) Fraser, medical librarian and mentor. UBC Wiki. Accessed 19 August 2025. https://wiki.ubc.ca/Tribute_to_Bill_(Colin)_Fraser,_Medical_Librarian_and_Mentor.

2.    Dunne C. The CPSBC closed our medical library. BCMJ 2024;66:104-105.

3.    Clarke M. Closure of the CPSBC medical library. BCMJ 2024;66:192.

4.    Kope TM. Closure of the CPSBC medical library. BCMJ 2024;66:191.

5.    Bradshaw R, Caines M, Jun J. Re: Closure of the CPSBC medical library. BCMJ 2025;67:47.

6.    Dunne C. I miss the CPSBC Library. BCMJ 2025;67:45.