Less than half a year remains for libraries in Alberta to adhere to new regulations regarding their collections. Concerns arise as librarians anticipate potential challenges and costs associated with compliance with these restrictions. The regulations stem from Bill 28, mandating public libraries in Alberta to limit access to materials containing visual depictions of sexual acts, such as books, graphic novels, magazines, films, TV series, and video games. Minors under 15 years old are barred from accessing or borrowing these restricted materials without parental consent.
Libraries are tasked with identifying, segregating, and regulating access to restricted items by January 1. Lesley Moody, manager of the Olds Municipal Library, highlights the complexity of this task, especially in combing through collections like graphic novels, where meticulously reviewing each book is necessary due to the lack of a detailed list from the government.
Moody estimates that her library will need 600 hours and $15,000 in labor costs solely to review the graphic novel collection. Additional expenses include assessing DVDs, video games, new shelving units for restricted materials, and establishing new workflows for children’s library cards and parental permissions.
While Moody’s library can manage the review process without closure, smaller libraries may face temporary shutdowns to comply with the deadline. The provincial government intends to issue guidelines this month to assist libraries in adapting to the new regulations, addressing concerns about educational materials, historical content, and reliance on ratings for films and video games.
The objective of Bill 28, as per Jack Alarie, press secretary for Alberta’s Municipal Affairs ministry, is to implement access controls rather than censorship. Libraries have historically curated collections based on professional standards and age-appropriateness, with mechanisms in place to handle complaints.
However, some librarians, like Ken Feser from the Medicine Hat Public Library, express apprehension that the restrictions may lead to certain materials becoming less visible or essentially disappearing from public access. The potential for burying books, restricting visibility, and attaching stigma to borrowing restricted materials raises concerns about the impact on library services and community access.
The new regulations have sparked debates about freedom of expression and local decision-making in libraries. Critics argue that the restrictions may undermine local autonomy in collection curation. The inspection process outlined in Bill 28 has raised concerns about centralized oversight and potential limitations on community-specific library services.
As discussions and debates continue, libraries in Alberta and across Canada closely monitor the outcomes of the implementation of these restrictions. The implications of Bill 28 on libraries’ operations and constitutional rights are being closely observed by professionals in the library sector nationwide.
