Alberta introduces bill to restrict minors’ access to explicit sexual images in public libraries

The Alberta government has introduced legislation aimed at limiting access by children and young teens to graphic sexual images in public libraries, according to a provincial announcement.

Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams tabled the bill, which would apply to all public library systems across the province. The proposed law does not include a ban on books, but would require measures to prevent those aged 15 and under from accessing visual depictions of sex.

According to the province, options under consideration include placing such materials in restricted sections or requiring library staff to control access. The government says the changes are intended to reflect that libraries are shared spaces used by both adults and minors, and that safeguards are needed for younger users.

The move follows earlier policy changes by Premier Danielle Smith’s government to prohibit graphic sexual material in school libraries. It is not yet clear how public library systems would implement the new requirements if the bill becomes law.