Alberta is bringing in new rules this fall to ensure that only what it calls “age appropriate” books are available in school libraries.
Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides says the move was spurred by four graphic coming-of-age novels depicting sexual, LGBTQ+ content found to be in circulation in public schools in Edmonton and Calgary.
Nicolaides says he was extremely concerned to learn such novels were available.
“Alberta’s government will begin work to develop new standards to guide school boards in selecting and managing materials with sexual content in their school library collections, and we’re looking for input from Albertans,” Nicolaides told a news conference in Calgary on Monday.
“We want to ensure transparency for parents so that they know what is available in their school library and to have a process for complaints and concerns about book materials and other library materials.”
The government is launching an online survey for feedback over the next 12 days as it prepares the new provincewide standards, with the aim of the new rules being in place by September.
The survey closes June 6.
The province says school boards currently have varying standards when choosing library material, leading to concerns about whether effective safeguards are in place.
The rules will apply to public, separate, francophone, charter and independent schools, but not to public libraries.
The boards of trustees of Edmonton Public Schools and the Calgary Board of Education issued a joint statement saying the government’s announcement came as a complete surprise and criticized it as a unilateral move that undermines the spirit of partnership.
“To date, the Ministry of Education has not raised any concerns with either the Calgary Board of Education or Edmonton Public Schools regarding library resources,” the statement said.
“Both our divisions follow established, rigorous processes to ensure that library resources are age-appropriate and relevant for students. Both divisions have clear mechanisms in place for any member of the school community to bring forward concerns about specific resources.”
In the meantime, the public school boards say they have temporarily pulled the books in question from circulation to review the content.
A spokesperson for the Calgary Catholic School District said they are in support of the government’s plan to gather feedback regarding age-appropriate books for school libraries.
