Alberta’s Public Libraries Raise Serious Concerns About Bill 28: Privacy, Local Control, and the Future of Library Services
Coalition sends letter to Premier Smith and Minister Williams seeking collaborative path forward
Published Date: April 9, 2026
The Coalition of Alberta Public Libraries (CAP Libraries) is raising significant concerns about Bill 28, the Municipal Affairs and Housing Statutes Amendment Act, and its proposed changes to how public libraries are governed and operated across the province. CAP Libraries represents all 324 public library service points serving 99 per cent of Albertans.
In a letter sent to Premier Danielle Smith and Minister of Municipal Affairs Dan Williams, CAP Libraries outlined concerns with the breadth and practicality of the proposed legislation and requested a meeting to discuss a collaborative and workable path forward.
Albertans trust their public libraries. Bill 28 creates new barriers to access, moves decision-making from local boards and trained professionals, and raises privacy concerns,” said Pilar Martinez, CEO, Edmonton Public Library. “Taken together, these changes undermine a system that communities across Alberta rely on and value.
CAP Libraries outlined the following concerns in a letter to the Province on April 9, 2026:
Privacy and access: The government has indicated that regulations under Bill 28 may require age-based restrictions on borrowing and access to materials. Enforcing these restrictions could require proof of age, parental consent verification and staff-mediated access, creating new barriers for Albertans simply trying to use their public library. These requirements raise unanswered questions about privacy protections, acceptable forms of identification, and how people without government-issued ID, including seniors, people without fixed addresses, and newcomers, would be able to access materials lawfully.
Local decision-making: Alberta’s public libraries are municipally based, locally governed, and primarily funded by municipalities. Bill 28 creates new ministerial powers related to inspection, access, borrowing and compliance. These changes would shift decision-making away from locally appointed library boards and professional staff and toward provincial officials. This doesn’t just threaten library autonomy — it threatens the autonomy of all local officials and is a significant departure from Alberta’s longstanding model of local governance.
Costs and practicality: The government has confirmed that no new funding is contemplated. Yet the proposed regime would require libraries to physically separate materials, retrain staff as age-verifiers, administer parental consent processes, redesign service points, modify digital platforms and prepare for provincial inspections. For small branches, rural systems and co-located facilities, these changes may be practically impossible. The ministry has also confirmed that key details, including how digital and third-party e-book platforms would be handled, have not yet been worked through.
Scope and proportionality: The proposed approach would apply to all 324 public library service points and to the entire library collection. This sweeping response is disproportionate to a problem that has not been demonstrated to be systemic province wide. Formal complaints about inappropriate materials in Alberta’s public libraries have been extremely rare
Rural and regional libraries are deeply concerned about Bill 28. If passed, this bill would undermine access to information, local decision-making, and the privacy of Albertans,” said Ron Sheppard, Director of Parkland Regional Library System. “Library staff work every day to support families and respect parental responsibility. Bill 28 would place library workers in gatekeeping roles that don’t reflect how public libraries operate and would make everyday service far more difficult for communities across Alberta.
Libraries in Alberta are asking the Province for:
A direct, structured engagement process with CAP Libraries and library-system leaders before legislating foundation changes to our library service model.
Reduce barriers for lawful access of materials and remove plans to require libraries to be province-wide gatekeepers.
Recognition of the systems that already exist in Alberta libraries, including local collection-development policies and request-for-reconsideration processes.
Proper privacy review, implementation planning, reasonable timelines, and dedicated funding for any future operational requirements.
Recent polling by Janet Brown Opinion Research found that 82 per cent of Albertans trust public libraries to make appropriate decisions about materials, compared to just 46 per cent who trust the Government of Alberta on the same question. Sixty-nine percent of Albertans prefer those decisions to be made locally by trained staff guided by local boards, and 60 per cent oppose provincial laws or regulations restricting access to library materials. A full report on this polling is available at CAPLibraries.ca.
CAP Libraries remains eager to collaborate with the Province on practical, operational steps that address their concerns, while respecting parental responsibility and intellectual freedom.
How Albertans Can Help:
Visit CAPLibraries.ca and follow @CAPLibraries on social.
Sign-up for future updates on this important issue at caplibraries.ca/stay-informed
Visit your local library and show them your support.
Write to your local MLA and share your concerns about Bill 28.
About CAP Libraries
The Coalition of Alberta Public Libraries (CAP Libraries) represents 324 public library service points across Alberta, serving 99 per cent of Albertans. Its membership includes libraries of all sizes and from every region of the province, including Alberta’s seven regional systems. With a mission to work together to promote core library principles, demonstrate value, and share the stories of how libraries enrich the lives of Albertans, CAP Libraries has a powerful and shared voice to advocate for the needs of the communities it serves. For more information, visit CAPLibraries.ca or contact media@caplibraries.ca.