Basil Stuart-Stubbs was born in Moncton, New Brunswick, in 1930. After completing a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of British Columbia in 1952, he continued his studies at McGill University, receiving a Bachelor of Library Science degree in 1954. In 1956, Stuart-Stubbs began a career at the UBC Library, working in various divisions, including Cataloguing, Serials, and Special Collections, until he became the Collections Coordinator in 1962. He was appointed to the position of University Librarian in 1964. He remained in that position until 1981, when he became the Director of UBC's School of Librarianship, later the School of Library, Archival, and Information Studies. Stuart-Stubbs retired as Director in 1992.
While University Librarian, Basil Stuart-Stubbs, played a crucial role in creating the University of British Columbia Press in 1971. He served as Chairman of the President's Permanent Committee on the UBC Press between 1971 and 1982. He was also one of the founding members of the Alcuin Society, an association concerned with book production and appreciation, in 1965, and he continues to remain active in the society. Stuart-Stubbs examined and made submissions on various issues relating to libraries while a member of many provincial, national and international committees and boards. In 1977, he oversaw the creation of an inter-library lending network for regional universities and colleges on behalf of the B.C. Ministry of Education. He was also the Chairman of the National Library of Canada's Union Catalogue Task Group in the 1970s. Stuart-Stubbs has published extensively. He has authored many articles, papers and books relating to libraries and historical cartography.