Alberta libraries scrambling to comply with Bill 28 book restrictions by January 1 deadline

Alberta's libraries are caught between a hard January 1, 2027 deadline to comply with Bill 28 book restrictions and a lack of clarity on what the law actually requires — or what it will cost.

The legislation, passed last May, targets material with explicit visual depictions of sexual acts. Books won't be removed from shelves but physically separated — such as behind a counter — with parental approval required for children 15 and under to access them. The province says it will issue guidance and non-binding guidelines to help libraries comply, but has provided no list of restricted materials, leaving that interpretation to each library.

Ron Sheppard, director of the Parkland Regional Library System and steering committee member of the Coalition of Alberta Public Libraries, said the ambiguity is creating widespread anxiety. "We have to interpret the legislation, then review our collections and how we'll comply with the legislation, and figure it out by Jan. 1 without any extra money," he said. "If there's one thing everyone in (the library community) can agree on, it's turning every library model on its head."

Libraries have asked the United Conservative Party government to extend the deadline to April 2027 and to fund compliance costs — both requests were rebuffed. The province has also maintained that provincial library operating grants will remain at 2019 levels.

Sheppard said the lack of a restricted-materials list is a particular burden. "It would have been clearer and more fair if the government provided a list, to take responsibility for deciding on what materials need to be restricted." The uncertainty extends to scope: libraries don't know whether the law applies only to books, or also to digital collections, videos, graphic novels, ebooks and internet access.

Some libraries report severe budget strain. St. Albert Public Library calculated compliance would cost $100,000. The Calgary Public Library said it cannot yet measure the fiscal or operational impact. Many libraries already operate on razor-thin margins — some are completely overwhelmed just keeping their doors open, Sheppard said.