Less than five months remain for libraries in Alberta to meet a deadline for complying with new restrictions on their collections. Despite the impending deadline, concerns linger among some librarians regarding the implementation of these regulations, given the substantial workload and potential increase in costs associated with compliance.
The new restrictions, a result of Bill 28, mandate that Alberta’s public libraries limit access to materials such as books, graphic novels, magazines, films, TV series, and video games that depict sexual acts visually. These regulations stipulate that individuals under 15 years old cannot access or borrow the newly restricted materials without parental consent. Libraries have until January 1 to determine which materials to restrict, arrange storage, and establish access protocols.
Lesley Moody, the manager of the Olds Municipal Library, emphasized the complexity of the task at hand, noting that it involves meticulous examination of collections, such as their 1,500 graphic novels, to identify and restrict specific content. The absence of a predefined list from the government means that library staff must review each book individually, which Moody estimates will require 600 staff hours and $15,000 in labor costs solely for the graphic novels.
The expenses for Moody’s library extend beyond graphic novels to include assessing DVDs, video games, procuring new shelving units, and developing new procedures for library card issuance and parental permissions. While Moody expresses confidence in her team’s ability to manage without closing to the public, she acknowledges that smaller libraries may face closure to comply with the regulations due to limited staffing.
The province intends to issue guidelines this month to assist libraries in adjusting or formulating new policies in response to Bill 28. Questions raised by Ron Sheppard, director of the Parkland Regional Library System, include uncertainties about the application of restrictions to educational materials and history books with potentially explicit imagery. Additionally, concerns exist regarding the treatment of online resources, such as e-books and audiobooks, and the reliance on ratings systems for films and video games.
Bill 28, as clarified by Jack Alarie from Alberta’s Municipal Affairs ministry, emphasizes access controls over censorship to safeguard children from explicit content in public libraries. While libraries have historically curated collections based on age-appropriateness and managed public complaints, Ken Feser, chief librarian at the Medicine Hat Public Library, worries that the new restrictions may reduce visibility of certain materials to the public, possibly leading to their eventual removal or stigmatization.
The expanded scope for inspectors under Bill 28 to examine library management, administration, and operation has sparked concerns about the inspection process, as detailed by Sheppard and Kelsey Chic, library manager for the Carmangay and District Municipal Library. Chic stresses the importance of local decision-making and worries that central oversight could undermine community-specific curation efforts within libraries.
James Turk, director at the Centre for Free Expression, advocates for a constitutional challenge against the restrictions, citing limited challenges to books in Alberta libraries in the past decade. He warns that the outcome in Alberta could set a precedent for similar legislation across Canada, prompting close observation from librarians nationwide.
Overall, the evolving landscape of library regulations in Alberta has sparked debates and uncertainties within the library community, with implications beyond compliance with the new restrictions.