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Alberta to Develop Standards for School Library Books Following Explicit Content Concerns

The government has launched a public survey to shape new rules ensuring 'age-appropriate' materials in school libraries by fall 2025.

alberta
Alberta's UCP government has announced that it is bringing in new rules to determine what books are available in school libraries.
The Calgary Board of Education headquarters along 8th St. and 12 Ave. SW. Tuesday, January 25, 2022. Brendan Miller/Postmedia
Books in a school library are seen in this file photo.

Overview

  • Alberta's Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides announced plans to create new standards for school library books after explicit sexual content was found in some school libraries.
  • The initiative follows the discovery of graphic novels, including 'Gender Queer' and 'Fun Home,' in schools across Edmonton and Calgary, which raised concerns among parents and officials.
  • The government has opened an online survey, running until June 6, to gather public feedback on what constitutes 'age-appropriate' materials for school libraries.
  • The new rules will apply to public, separate, francophone, charter, and independent schools but will not affect public libraries.
  • Critics, including school boards and the Alberta Teachers' Association, have expressed concerns over potential censorship and the targeting of LGBTQ+ content.