Alberta government orders removal of sexually explicit books from school libraries

Alberta's government has introduced new province-wide standards for school libraries, mandating the removal of books containing explicit sexual content from K-12 schools by October 1.

The move, announced through a ministerial order by Education and Childcare Minister Demetrios Nicolaides, comes after months of growing debate over certain graphic novels available in public school libraries.

“This is not about banning books,” Nicolaides said. “Our actions to ensure that materials in school libraries don’t expose children to sexual content were never about banning books. These new standards are to ensure school boards have clear guidance to ensure age-appropriate access while reflecting the values and priorities of Albertans.”


The order prohibits materials with “a detailed and clear depiction of a sexual act,” including masturbation, genital contact, and penetration. Non-explicit sexual content will only be available to students in Grades 10-12 if deemed developmentally appropriate. Students in Grade 9 and below are not allowed access to such materials.

Books specifically named by the province as inappropriate include:

• Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
  
• Fun Home by Alison Bechdel
  
• Blankets by Craig Thompson
  
• Flamer by Mike Curato
  

These books were found in both elementary and high schools under the Calgary Board of Education and the Edmonton Public School Board.

The government says materials about puberty, menstruation, and breastfeeding are not restricted at any grade level. Religious books, such as the Bible, are exempt from the new order.

School boards must now:

• Remove all books with explicit sexual content by October 1, 2025
  
• Publicly post their library catalogues
  
• Ensure staff supervise students' access to library resources
  
• Align their policies with the new standards by January 1, 2026
  

No additional funding has been allocated to support schools in implementing these changes.

The Calgary Board of Education responded, saying it “already has rigorous processes” for evaluating library materials. The Calgary Catholic School District also stated it “will align with the new mandated standards.”

Critics, including public librarians and teacher unions, argue this is a political move targeting LGBTQ+ content. “This is a ban in all but name,” said Peter Bailey, CEO of St. Albert Public Library.

An online government survey that received over 77,000 valid responses showed 42 percent of Albertans supported banning sexually explicit content outright, while 22 percent favored limiting it based on grade level.

The policy does not apply to classroom materials selected by teachers or municipal libraries located within school buildings.