Alberta Restricts Sexual Images in School Libraries Across Province

The Alberta government has revised its ministerial order regarding school library content, now focusing solely on removing books containing explicit visual depictions of sexual acts while allowing written descriptions of sex to remain. This change came after Edmonton Public Schools planned to remove over 200 titles, including classics like The Handmaid's Tale and Brave New World, sparking widespread criticism and concerns about censorship of literary works. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides emphasized that the updated guidelines aim to prevent children from being exposed to graphic sexual imagery while ensuring classic literature stays accessible. The new order defines sexual acts as visual representations such as drawings, photographs, or videos of penetration, masturbation, sex toy use, or child molestation, but exempts medical or non-sexual images like anatomy books or religious texts. Schools must remove books with such visuals by January 5, 2026, and maintain publicly available lists of materials and review policies. The government clarified that materials brought in by students without school knowledge are not subject to removal, and the revised order removes age-based distinctions for access to sexual content in school libraries.