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Alberta library staff and boards face a serious dilemma. How should their libraries respond to the provincial government's unprecedented steps to override a long and unblemished tradition of local governance of Alberta’s public libraries which began 119 years ago?

It’s decision time. The Alberta government is directing you to abandon what has made your public library what it is today – locally governed, with collections based on the needs and interests of your community, local policies, and competent staff to ensure that everyone in your community finds material that is of interest to them.

The past year marked a turning point for expressive freedom in Canadian libraries. While debates over library collections, programs and services are not new, recent developments reveal a broader shift in the relationship between governments, public institutions, and the public’s right to seek information. Legislative intervention, organized censorship campaigns, and reductions in library capacity increasingly challenge libraries’ longstanding role as independent institutions that provide equitable access to information and recorded knowledge.