A new Alberta bill proposing expanded provincial oversight of public libraries is facing pushback from library leaders, who say the changes could undermine local control, limit access and raise privacy concerns.
Bill 28, the Municipal Affairs and Housing Statutes Amendment Act, was introduced April 2 in the Alberta legislature by Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams. The legislation proposes amendments to the Libraries Act, the Municipal Government Act and the Housing Act.
If passed, the bill will allow the province to initiate reviews of public libraries or respond to complaints, while also enabling the development of non-binding guidelines intended to support library governance.
Williams says the changes are aimed at strengthening oversight of essential public services and ensuring consistency across the province.
“These are services that people rely on every single day, often without thinking about them — libraries, utilities and wastewater, to name a few,” Williams says. “This section of the bill focuses on strengthening how those systems are governed.”
The legislation would introduce “a clear and consistent process to address concerns across the province,” while respecting local decision-making.
Restricting access for minors
A key component involves future regulations restricting access to materials containing sexually explicit visual content for minors.
In July 2025, the Ministry of Education and Childcare introduced updated standards for school library materials. The order banned materials with explicit sexual content and limited access to non-explicit sexual material for students below Grade 10.
After pushback from some school boards, the original order was revised. In September, the ministry clarified rules would apply only to “visual depictions” of sexual acts.
This time, however, the government is not directing the removal of any books or materials from public libraries.
“We will not be restricting access to materials for anyone 16 or older or anyone that has parental consent,” Williams says. “We are not requiring the removal of these materials. However, we will require that they are put behind a counter in a place that children cannot find them while wandering the libraries.”
The proposed changes will not affect the vast majority of library materials. They will not apply to written works, educational or health-related resources or content without explicit visual imagery.
Under the proposed framework, materials containing explicit visual depictions of sexual acts could be physically separated from other collections, with access controlled by library staff. Individuals 15 and younger would require parental consent, while adults would have full access.
Libraries would also be given time to review collections and implement changes.
Coalition raises concerns
The Coalition of Alberta Public Libraries, which represents 324 public library service points serving 99 per cent of Albertans, has raised concerns about the scope and impact of the proposed legislation.
In a letter sent April 9 to Williams and to Premier Danielle Smith, the coalition says Bill 28 could create new barriers for library users and shift decision-making away from local libraries.
“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,” says Pilar Martinez, CEO of Edmonton Public Library, in the coalition’s statement.
Among its concerns, CAP Libraries says enforcing age-based restrictions could require proof of age, parental consent verification and staff-mediated access. This raises questions about privacy protections and accessibility for individuals without government-issued identification, including seniors, newcomers and people without fixed addresses.
The coalition also raises concerns about local governance, noting that Alberta’s public libraries are funded primarily by municipalities. The proposed ministerial powers related to inspection, access and compliance would mark a shift toward provincial control.
Cost and practicality are also flagged as major issues. CAP Libraries says the changes could require libraries to redesign service areas, retrain staff, modify digital platforms and implement new administrative processes, with no indication of additional funding from the province.
For smaller and rural library systems, the coalition says these requirements may be difficult to implement.
“Bill 28 would place library workers in gatekeeping roles that don’t reflect how public libraries operate,” says Ron Sheppard, director of Parkland Regional Library System.
The coalition argues the response is disproportionate to a problem that has not been shown to be systemic, noting that formal complaints about inappropriate materials in Alberta’s public libraries have been extremely rare.
CAP Libraries cite polling results by Janet Brown Opinion Research that shows 82 per cent of Albertans trust public libraries to make appropriate decisions about materials, compared to 46 per cent who trust the provincial government.
“Sixty-nine per cent of Albertans prefer those decisions to be made locally by trained staff guided by local boards, and 60 per cent oppose provincial laws or regulations restricting access to library materials,” it says.
The organization is calling on the province to engage directly with library leaders before proceeding with legislative changes, and to ensure any new requirements include proper privacy review, implementation planning and dedicated funding.
Local library responds
Pincher Creek Municipal Library, which is part of the Chinook Arch Regional Library System under CAP Libraries, has not taken a public position for or against the bill.
In a statement, the library says it supports “intellectual freedom rights for all citizens of Pincher Creek.”
Williams says the government plans to work with the library sector as it develops regulations.
“We’ll engage with experts and draw in research for the best practices moving forward,” he says, adding the goal is to ensure families feel confident that appropriate safeguards are in place while maintaining access to materials for those who need them.
“I do [trust parents and librarians],” Williams says. “Any parent that wants kids to have access to any material in a library, they can grant that authority to their children.”
However, he adds that “until that permission is given, those who are under the age of 16 are going to have to get their parents’ permission for things that are truly pornographic in nature.”
By Somya Lohia, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Original Published on Apr 22, 2026 at 09:11
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