Alberta Librarians Criticize New Provincial Library Access Restrictions
An organization representing public libraries across Alberta has issued a strong warning about the provincial government's newly introduced age-based access restrictions on materials containing visual depictions of sexual acts. The Coalition of Alberta Public Libraries (CAP Libraries) expressed concerns that the legislation will be difficult to enforce, create significant privacy issues, and comes without any additional funding for implementation.
Legislation Echoes School Library Restrictions
The organization sent a formal letter to Premier Danielle Smith and Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams on Thursday, outlining their objections to Bill 28, the Municipal Affairs and Housing Statutes Amendment Act. This legislation, introduced in the legislature last week, extends access restrictions similar to those already implemented in school libraries to public libraries across the province.
"Albertans trust their public libraries. Bill 28 creates new barriers to access, moves decision-making from local boards and trained professionals, and raises privacy concerns," stated Pilar Martinez, CEO of Edmonton Public Library, in a news release. "Taken together, these changes undermine a system that communities across Alberta rely on and value."
Four Key Issues Identified
The coalition's letter identifies four primary concerns with the proposed legislation:
- Access Barriers and Privacy Concerns: The borrowing and access restrictions could require proof of age or parental consent verification, creating new obstacles for library users. "These requirements raise unanswered questions about privacy protections, acceptable forms of identification, and how people without government-issued ID, including seniors, people without fixed addresses, and newcomers, would be able to access materials lawfully," the CAP Libraries statement reads.
- Lack of Implementation Funding: The government has provided no new funding for the changes, which would require physical barriers to separate materials and retraining staff on age-verification practices. The coalition describes the changes as "practically impossible" for smaller branches or co-located facilities and notes that access to third-party ebook platforms has not been addressed.
- Gatekeeping Role for Librarians: "Bill 28 would place library workers in gatekeeping roles that don't reflect how public libraries operate," stated Ron Sheppard, director of Parkland Regional Library System, in a news release. The legislation would require librarians to become "province-wide gatekeepers" of materials.
- Erosion of Local Governance: The letter raises concerns about organizational changes in the bill that give the minister new powers and potentially erode local governance of municipally funded institutions.
Representing 99% of Albertans
CAP Libraries represents 324 public library service points across Alberta, serving approximately 99 percent of the province's population. The coalition's letter calls for a more structured engagement process, a privacy review of the legislation, funding for implementation, and a reduction of barriers for lawful access to materials.
The organization emphasizes that these changes come without consultation or consideration of how they would be practically implemented across diverse library systems serving urban, rural, and remote communities throughout Alberta.
