Alberta School Boards Remove Library Books Following Provincial Ban

Alberta’s two largest school boards have removed numerous library books in response to a new provincial ban on sexually explicit materials. The Edmonton Public School Board announced that it took down 34 titles to comply with the government directive. A spokesperson, Kim Smith, indicated that the list of removed books is not final and may be updated over time, stating, “It’s important to note that the list is not exhaustive; it is a living document that can be adjusted.”

The Calgary Board of Education reported the removal of 44 titles from its libraries, though it also chose not to disclose specific titles. According to spokesperson Joanne Anderson, the removed books represent a small fraction of the board’s extensive collection. “We have a total of 3,192,457 items in our library collection, with approximately 700,000 unique titles,” Anderson noted.

The Edmonton Catholic School Division removed six books, but did not specify which titles were affected. The provincial policy, introduced in the fall of 2025, mandates the removal of books containing explicit images or illustrations of sexual content. Initially, the policy also covered written descriptions of sexual content, but was revised after the Edmonton Public School Board announced plans to eliminate several notable works, including Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale.”

In response to concerns around classic literature, Premier Danielle Smith and Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides clarified that their focus was on images rather than textual descriptions. “Classic literary works that work to provoke the mind and challenge our thinking are exactly the type of material that should be provided in a school library,” Nicolaides stated in September.

As part of the revised policy, school divisions were required to submit lists of the books they intended to remove to the education ministry. Garrett Koehler, press secretary for Nicolaides, emphasized that the government did not influence the final decisions. “School boards had the final decision and full discretion on creating the lists based on the ministerial order,” Koehler explained.

Both the Edmonton and Calgary school boards announced new policies for managing library materials. These policies outline procedures for students, parents, and community members to request reviews of specific books for content issues. The Edmonton Public School Board plans to establish an internal committee to handle these reviews, which must be completed within 60 operating days of receiving a request. Until a decision is made, books under review will remain accessible to students.

The Calgary Board of Education will have school principals or designates conduct book reviews, supplemented by input from other officials as needed.

This report was first published on January 6, 2026, by The Canadian Press.