Skip to Main Content

Library: Patients

This webpage is for BC Cancer patients, their families and friends.

The BC Cancer Library is here to help patients, their family members, and loved ones find relevant and credible information for their cancer care, management, and support needs.

We offer access to our library collections at each of our six BC Cancer centres and we provide information services to patients across BC and the Yukon.

Contact your regional centre library or submit an information request and a librarian will connect with you on cancer-related information.

Services for Patients

How can we help you?

Reference Information Services: Contact the library via phone, email, or via our new Information Request Form to obtain customized cancer and support information and resources specific to your needs and interests. Please note that all in-person reference services is temporarily halted due to Covid. 

Access to relevant and credible information: The library works to curate and make accessible the best cancer information available, and staff and patients can find resources below:

  • BC Cancer Library website: provides access to our library catalogue, including "canned' searches on popular topics which retrieves the most current resources we have on the topic
  • Types of Cancer webpages: These pages are revised and edited by the Library, and are great starting points for basic information on different types of cancer
  • Pathfinders: Patient handouts that compile carefully selected library materials and trusted websites on specific topics
  • Recommended Websites: Find rigorously, library evaluated and compiled websites for patients and healthcare professionals to complement BC Cancer produced resources.

Events 

As a part of patient education events, the Library often opens our spaces so that you can borrow books and receive informational support from a librarian.

We can also offer one-one-one or small group sessions (via Zoom or in person) on health literacy and how to find cancer-related information. If you are interested in a patient education event, please contact us.

BC Cancer Library Pathfinders for Patients

Pathfinders are curated lists of some of our books, pamphlets, support services, trusted websites, and other resources on a specific type of cancer or support topic for patients.

Where Can You Find Us?

BC Cancer - Vancouver - Main Library, BC Cancer Research Centre

The BC Cancer-Vancouver Library respectfully acknowledges the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations on whose traditional territories the library is privileged to operate.

General Library Email library@bccancer.bc.ca  

Phone 604-675-8002

Hours 

  • 8:30 am - 4:30 pm - Monday - Thursday
  • 8:30 am - 4:30 pm - Monday - Friday virtual remote services

Location BC Cancer Research Centre - 675 West 10th Ave., Vancouver BC V5Z 1L3

 

BC Cancer - Vancouver - Lobby, Cancer Information Centre (CIC)

Location  BC Cancer - 600 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4E6
Please call the Vancouver Centre Library for more information about their volunteer-run kiosk in the lobby of the Vancouver Centre.  - Temporarily closed until further notice. Email or call us to borrow books and for virtual assistance!

BC Cancer - Prince George Library / CIC

The BC Cancer-Prince George Centre for the North (CN) Library respectfully acknowledges the Lheidli T'enneh Nation on whose traditional territories the library is privileged to operate. 

General Library Email library@bccancer.bc.ca

Phone Call toll-free within British Columbia and Yukon 1-888-675-8001 x 8001

Hours Call the main Library for availability 

Location Centre for the North: 1215 Lethbridge St., Prince George, BC, Canada V2N 7E9   - Temporarily closed until further notice. Email or call us to borrow books and for virtual assistance!

BC Cancer - Surrey Library / (CIC)

The BC Cancer-Surrey Library respectfully acknowledges the q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), Qʼʷa:n̓ƛʼən̓ (Kwantlen), and sc̓əwaθən məsteyəxʷ (Tsawwassen) Nations on whose traditional territories the library is privileged to operate.

General Library Email library_fvc@bccancer.bc.ca 

Phone 604-930-2098 x 654576 or toll-free within British Columbia and Yukon 1-800-523-2885 x 654576

Hours Virtual services: Monday, Thursday, Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm / In-person: Tuesday & Wednesday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm 

Location Surrey Memorial Hospital: 13775 96 Ave., Surrey, BC V3T 4H9  - Temporarily closed until further notice. Email or call us to borrow books and for virtual assistance!

BC Cancer - Victoria, Library & Cancer Information Centre (CIC)

The BC Cancer-Victoria Library respectfully acknowledges the Lək̓ʷəŋən Peoples (Esquimalt and Songhees Nations) whose traditional territories the library is privileged to operate.

General Library Email library_vic@bccancer.bc.ca  

Phone (250) 519-5517 x 695517 

Hours In-person: Monday - Thursday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm / Virtual services: Friday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Location BC Cancer - Victoria: 2410 Lee Ave., Victoria BC, V8R 6V5 (next to the Royal Jubilee Hospital), 3rd Floor

Abbotsford Regional Hospital and BC Cancer - Abbotsford
Library & Cancer Information Centre (CIC)

The BC Cancer-Abbotsford Library respectfully acknowledges the Sumas and Mastqui Nations on whose traditional territories the library is privileged to operate.

General Library Email  library_ac@bccancer.bc.ca 

Phone 604-851-4710 x 646827    

Office Hours In-person: Monday & Tuesday 8:00 am - 2:00 pm ; Wednesday 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Location Abbotsford Regional Hospital & Cancer Centre: 32900 Marshall Rd., Abbotsford, BC V2S 0C2 

BC Cancer - Kelowna, Library & Cancer Information Centre (CIC)

The BC Cancer-Kelowna Library respectfully acknowledges the Syilx (Okanagan) Nation on whose traditional territories the library is privileged to operate.

General Library Email  library_csi@bccancer.bc.ca

Phone (250) 712-3966 x 686821

Hours 8:00 am - 4:00 pm (Monday - Wednesday)

Location BC Cancer - Kelowna (Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins Centre): 399 Royal Ave., Kelowna, BC V1Y 5L3 - Temporarily closed until further notice. Email or call us to borrow books and for virtual assistance!

Can Patients Borrow Library Books?

YES! The library provides consumer-health cancer books and other materials that can be borrowed from the Vancouver Library and regional branch Cancer Information Centres (CICs). Note - though some library and CIC locations are currently closed to the public due to Covid, patient materials can still be borrowed).

People can search our library catalogue and call or email us for resources and we can mail books to patients anywhere in BC or the Yukon, and will provide a free return mailing label.



 The BC Cancer library system consists of a central library at Vancouver Centre (VC), and branches in Abbotsford (AC), Kelowna (SAHCSI), Prince George (CN), Surrey (FVC), and Victoria (VIC). All centres have patient resource collections in our Cancer Information Centres (CIC), and all centres have a professional collection on site. Professional resources for CN are housed in the adjacent UHNBC Library.