BREAKING: Alberta targets graphic sex images in updated rules for school libraries

The Alberta government’s order to remove sexually explicit books from school library collections is back after a brief pause last week.

Source: Government of Alberta

The Alberta government’s order to remove sexually explicit books from school library collections is back after a brief pause last week. The updated guidelines now specifically target the removal of books containing images of explicit sex acts, while ensuring classic literature remains accessible.

Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said the revisions came in response to Edmonton Public Schools’ proposed removal list of more than 200 titles. The school board planned to weed libraries of classic titles like The Handmaid’s Tale, as well as Brave New World, The Color Purple, and The Godfather.

“Our goal has always been to make sure students are not exposed to visually graphic sexual material in school libraries. I am confident we can meet that goal while making the process as simple and straightforward as possible for schools and teachers,” said Nicolaides. “The revised order will ensure that classic literary works remain in school libraries, while materials with explicit visual depictions of sexual acts do not end up in the hands of children.”

Ministerial Order #034/2025 now focuses on visual depictions of sexual acts, including images of penetration, masturbation, sex toy use or child molestation.

Novels, poetry and other works with written descriptions of sex can remain in school libraries if they do not contain explicit imagery. The order does not apply to non-sexual images or activities related to sexual acts, such as puberty, menstruation, breastfeeding, kissing or handholding.

“One of the main differences is developmental and age appropriateness. An image can be understood and conveyed to you at any grade level with any degree of comprehension. Whereas, of course, vocabulary and understanding progresses and develops throughout the school year,” Nicolaides told the media at a briefing.

The original order mandated a two-phase implementation: schools were to remove books with detailed sexual acts by Oct. 1, 2025, and by Jan. 1, 2026, school boards were to provide policies for parental review of removed books.

Under the revised rules, school boards must submit a list of titles they intend to remove to the minister by Oct. 31, 2025. Materials with explicit sexual imagery must then be removed by Jan. 5, 2026.

Schools are prohibited from removing books before providing a list to the minister.

Additionally, the definition of “school library materials” has been expanded to “school literary materials.”

Distinctions for different grade levels, present in the previous order, have been removed.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith previously criticized the Edmonton Public School Board for “vicious compliance” regarding its removal list. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides repeatedly confirmed the province had no role in creating the list.

“If they need us to hold their hand through the process to identify what kind of materials are appropriate … we will more than happily work with them to work through their list one by one,” said Smith. “We are trying to take sexually explicit content out of elementary schools. That’s what our objective is.”

She previously clarified how the help would come.

“1. Get graphic pornographic images out of school libraries. 2. Leave the classics on the shelves. 3. We all know the difference between the items in 1 and 2. Let’s not play any more games in implementing this policy for our kids,” said Smith.

School authorities must regularly review library materials and publish a publicly available list of all school literary materials. Classroom collections are exempt from public listing but must be available to parents upon request, for instance, by viewing a bookshelf during a parent-teacher meeting.

The order applies to public, separate, francophone, charter, and independent schools, as well as independent early childhood services operators.

It does not apply to municipal libraries (even those in schools), learning and teaching resources approved by the minister, or materials students bring into schools without authorities’ knowledge.

The province again issued a “viewer discretion is advised” warning when sending a book package to media, which included books like Gender Queer, Fun Home, Blankets, and Flamer, all containing “heinous sexual imagery.”