Photo: The Village of Forestburg council will send a letter of concern to the Government of Alberta over a proposed bill that will censor public library material, over concerns libraries don’t have the resources to implement it. Pictured is Main Street Forestburg. Rural Alberta Report/S.Salkeld

The Village of Forestburg council will send a letter of concern to the Government of Alberta over a proposed bill that will censor public library material, over concerns libraries don’t have the resources to implement it. The resolution was passed at the May 7 regular meeting.

Councillors heard an update from Parkland Regional Libraries (PRL) represented by Director Ron Sheppard and Chair Barb Gilliat, who is also Mayor of Alix. Coincidentally, councillors also had a second item on their agenda related to PRL, Bill 28 and a request from the library organization to send a letter of concern to the provincial government over the proposed bill.

According to the Government of Alberta website, Bill 28 includes a number of changes to government, one of which would affect public libraries. “New province-wide standards related to age-appropriate access to certain library materials would take effect once regulation is created at a later date this spring,” stated the provincial government website.

Duran discussion Sheppard stated how Bill 28 would actually affect libraries is a bit fuzzy, as not all details have been released. Sheppard stated libraries have no idea what the criteria would be to separate (age-appropriate” material would be or how library staff will screen requests for such material.

Sheppard stated several times during his presentation it appears Bill 28 public library changes would place noticeable workload requirements on public library staff and he stated those staff would have to be paid for that work.

Further, Sheppard stated libraries offer more than books, so if Bill 28’s changes also affect things like audio books, newspapers or other collections, the workload issue compounds.

Even more, Sheppard stated he doesn’t know how this will affect privacy issues such as library staff asking people for proof of age or legal identification.

Coun. Blaise Young observed that the Forestburg Public Library gets a “minuscule number of complaints” about objectionable material.

Sheppard stated that even though parts of Bill 28 will greatly affect public libraries the organizations were given no notice of the bill and found out about it when the bill entered the legislature, adding that many people, including library staff, don’t know much about what the bill will affect, how it will be affected or who will pay for the effects.

Coun. Elaine Fossen responded, “I don’t think they know themselves.” Fossen wondered how small libraries like Forestburg's will pay for staff to handle Bill 28 regulations.

Both Sheppard and Gilliat noted that it seems the province has made it clear the Government of Alberta won’t be paying for Bill 28’s costs; rather, the local taxpayer will.

Coun. Young stated it appears the provincial government is exerting its power to take over public libraries as he feels they’ve done to local governments. “Taking control of the municipalities,” said Young.

Later in the meeting councillors discussed PRL’s request to send a letter of concern to the Government of Alberta. Coun. Fossen stated she felt the village was obligated to do so. “There’s too much uncertainty,” said Fossen.

Mayor Dwayne Giroux agreed, stating that sending a letter wasn’t support or opposition to Bill 28, but rather a request for factual information regarding how municipalities and their libraries handle these new rules.

Councillors unanimously passed a resolution to send a letter of concern to the provincial government regarding Bill 28’s lack of detail and clarity.