This is the first of what we hope will be a regular feature in the SQUMJ. For each issue, we will scan the Cochrane Library for what is new and aim to select five or six reviews which we think will be of interest to readers. We hope you will find this a valuable resource. Feedback and suggestions for topics to cover will be welcomed. The Cochrane Library of Systematic Reviews is published quarterly as a DVD and monthly online. The March 2012 on-line issue contained 5,010 complete reviews, 2,153 protocols for reviews in production and 16,773 short summaries of systematic reviews published in the general medical literature. In addition, there are citations of 670,000 randomized controlled trials, and 15,000 cited papers in the Cochrane methodology register. The impact factor of the Cochrane Library stands at 6.186. This article comments on six reviews covering a range of topics including childbirth, cancer care, pneumonia and the newborn. We describe the findings of these reviews and discuss implications for practice, draw out any learning points, and are critical where we feel that is justified. Readers are encouraged to access the full report for any articles of interest as only a brief commentary is provided.