Today, the Canadian Urban Library Council / Conseil des Bibliothèques Urbaines du Canada (CULC/CBUC) learned that Alberta’s Minister of Municipal Affairs, Dan Williams, announced changes to the Libraries Act through Bill 28 that will restrict access to resources in Alberta’s public libraries. This level of provincial overreach into public library governance is unprecedented in the history of public libraries in Canada.
The Coalition of Alberta Public Libraries (CAP Libraries), representing all public libraries in Alberta, has been engaged in conversations regarding intellectual freedom with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and provincial representatives since Fall 2025 but were not consulted on the changes announced today. These changes directly affect 324 public library service points across Alberta, serving 99 percent of Albertans, and raise serious concerns about censorship and political interference that extend beyond Alberta’s borders.
CULC/CBUC stands with CAP Libraries and supports its public statement condemning this act of censorship and the significant impacts this legislation will have on libraries and communities across Alberta.
As national advocates for intellectual freedom, freedom of expression, and equitable access to information, CULC/CBUC affirms the essential role of collection policies developed and administered by library professionals, and the authority and autonomy of publicly appointed library boards. CULC/CBUC is carefully reviewing the legislation and considering its implications for libraries and the communities they serve across Alberta.