LAA Response to School Library Standards Engagement Survey Results
The Library Association of Alberta has reviewed the results of the School Library Standards Engagement conducted by the Government of Alberta between May 26, 2025 and June 6, 2025.
As librarians who work to ensure rich, diverse collections in all libraries across Alberta, we are gratified to learn that the majority of respondents (68%) think decisions about what is age appropriate in school libraries should be made by either school librarians, teachers, school boards or school administrators. This is in line with how decisions are currently made. We are also pleased to hear that the majority of respondents (61%) have never been concerned about a book in a school library being inappropriate for a certain age group. We encourage and support parents with concerns to utilize the material reconsideration processes in place at their schools so that parental voices continue to be heard and involved in collection development.
We note that 66% of respondents feel some or all children should be able to access materials with sexually explicit content in school libraries. (17% said all ages, 4% said 12 years and under, 22% said 12 years and up, and 23% said 15 years and up).
Finally, 49% of parents of K-12 students were not at all supportive or not very supportive of the Government of Alberta setting consistent requirements for school boards in how they select and manage school library materials, with 8% stating they are unsure. Only 29% of parents were very supportive of government involvement in the selection and management of school library materials.
The survey results show that a minority of parents support government standards for how materials are selected and managed in school libraries, the majority the parents have never been concerned about materials in school libraries, and the majority of parents feel decisions about school library collections should be made by librarians, educators and schools. We are confused and disappointed by the Government of Alberta’s assertion that the survey results show strong public support for government intervention.
We are equally dismayed to learn that the government plans to proceed with releasing their ministerial order censoring materials available in school libraries despite their survey providing no mandate for this action and results that show less than half of parents are in favour. This is not reflective of evidence-based decision-making or listening to parents.
The Library Association of Alberta agrees with the majority of parents and Albertans that decisions about the selection and management of school library collections should be made by school librarians, teachers, school administrators and school boards, not politicians.