LAA Statement on Provincial Government Announcement Regarding School Libraries

(May 27, 2025) The Library Association of Alberta (LAA) is surprised and concerned by the provincial government’s news release yesterday that it intends to ban books in Alberta school libraries starting in September. 

At no point has the province previously expressed any concern to the LAA about the books in our province’s school libraries.

Schools and school boards take great care, and are guided by sound policies and processes, in selecting books for school libraries and ensuring the books are age-appropriate and relevant for students’ developmental stages, learning needs, and lived realities.

The best way for the province to strengthen school libraries for the benefit of students is to provide more adequate educational funding targeted to school libraries and reading resources.

As the Edmonton and Calgary public school boards said in their statement, school boards already have rigorous selection guidelines developed by librarians and other library professionals, to ensure age-appropriate collections that are relevant to students’ lives and educational growth and maturation. 

We are delighted to hear the government is invested in ensuring exceptional school library collections, and we urge it to invest in the system and in the professionally trained library staff required to curate balanced and responsible access to a broad range of library materials for all students. 

The Library Association of Alberta would be pleased to assist the government and the Minister of Education and Childcare in supporting existing policies and practices for school libraries that enrich the educational experiences of all students across the province.

Laura Winton, LAA President

On behalf of the LAA Board of Directors

• Released: May 27th, 2025 12:27 PM
• https://www.libraryassociationalberta.com/news/laa-statement-on-provincial-government-announcement-regarding-school-libraries/
  

Trivia Night on June 10th is now at capacity and we are closing registration.

Thank you!

The Board of the Association of Canadian Archivists would like to offer condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Ed Atkinson on his passing.  As an active member of the ACA, Ed was a regular participant at many ACA conferences. His love for archives and for Nunavut was evident. His presence in the archival community will be greatly missed.

The final conference schedule and program is now available online - https://archivists.ca/Conference-Schedule

The First Timers and Welcome Reception held at LAC on June 9th is now at capacity.  Thank you!

In order to meet the deadline to order the food for the Thursday lunch, and the dinner/dance Thursday night we will have to close the registration for those two events on June 1st. We cannot take registration after that date.

If you wish to attend the dinner portion of the dinner dance or wish to have a box lunch you will have to register by that time.

The tour of the Gatineau Preservation Centre on June 9th is now at capacity.  Thank you!

Thanks to everyone who registered. The Black History tour being given on June 10th is now at capacity.

Archivaria 99

Printed issues of Archivaria 99 are in transit to the Canada Post Station near the printers. Barring a settlement, Canada Post workers will walk off the job at midnight local time on May 23, 2025. This will impact the delivery of your print issue. 

The ACA has sent a letter to HBC CEO Richard Baker, and Alvarez & Marsal Canada Inc, Court-appointed monitors for the HBC its concern over the proposed auction of historical artifacts from the Hudson's Bay Company collection. Read the letter here.