For most of my career, I have focused on helping families and children build strong relationships with reading. This work has taught me that certain conditions are essential for children to become readers: access to books, a wide range of reading materials, and the freedom to choose what they read.
The Impact of Bill 28 on Library Access
With the passing of Bill 28, which allows the province to set regulations around age-based access to public library materials, I reflect on what its implementation could mean for libraries, families, and children. Children need access to books. Research consistently shows that children become stronger readers when they are surrounded by books and when adults actively engage them in reading. Being surrounded by books is also linked to improved letter recognition, storytelling, and early writing skills.
Research with families in Calgary has found that children who were read to daily in their early years experienced stronger developmental outcomes by age two, while those not read to regularly were likely to experience developmental delays. Anything that affects how easily families can access books is worth examining carefully in light of this evidence.
The Importance of Diverse Reading Materials
Second, the diversity and range of reading materials matter because children are drawn to different stories, topics, or formats. Some love fantasy while others like sports, graphic novels, or science fiction. Some look for books that reflect their culture, language, or lived experiences, while others want to understand experiences very different from their own. Research shows that seeing oneself reflected in books shapes children's confidence and engagement with reading. Yet, many children, particularly those from diverse cultural, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds, still struggle to find books that reflect who they are.
This matters profoundly in Calgary, where one in three residents is an immigrant and many are growing up across languages, cultures, identities, and family experiences. For many families, the diversity of reading materials is essential for exploration and self-understanding.
Freedom of Choice in Reading
Third, children benefit from having a choice in what they read. The 2018 PISA results showed that children who read voluntarily, out of curiosity and enjoyment, tend to have stronger reading skills. Other research has found that children who choose what they read perform better in reading tasks and enjoy reading more. In other words, children are more likely to build a positive relationship with reading when they can follow their own interests and curiosities.
This is why restrictions, even when motivated by genuine concern, can carry consequences beyond the materials themselves. When anyone — but especially children — feels restricted, judged, or limited in what they are allowed to explore, some may disengage from reading altogether. Others may lose access to materials that help them better understand themselves or the world around them. Some may turn to online spaces or sources that are far less regulated and far less supportive.
