Libraries Regulation

(Consolidated up to 176/2026) ALBERTA REGULATION 141/98 Libraries Act LIBRARIES REGULATION Table of Contents 1 Definitions 2 Definition for Act Part 1 Boards Generally 3 Reports of bylaws 4 Reports of policies 5 Meetings open to public 6 Public inspection of minutes, resolutions and bylaws 7 Policies 8 Some types of inspections 9 Identification of inspector 9.1 When library service point may be in a school Part 3 Municipal and Intermunicipal Library Boards 13 Plan of service 14 Employment of professional librarian 15 Report to Minister 16 Requests by Minister 17.1 Contents of intermunicipal agreement 17.2 Dissolution of intermunicipal library board Part 4 Library System Boards 18 Plan of service 19 Employment of professional librarians 20 Reports to Minister 21 Requests by Minister Part 5 Completion of Library Systems 22 Definitions 23 Library system membership 24 Resolutions before membership 25 Contents of agreement 26 Notice of withdrawal 27 Request to Minister 29 Personal property of municipal and intermunicipal library boards 30 Real property of library system board 31 Advisory committee 32 Library system board members 33 Appointment of additional members 34 Library system boundaries 35 Public library network Part 5.1 Access, Use and Borrowing of Library Resources 35.1 Definitions 35.2 Restricted library resources — use or borrowing 35.3 Restricted library resources — location and access 35.4 Policies re restricted library resources 35.5 Policies re borrowing and use of technology 35.6 Policies re library services points in schools 35.7 Compliance Part 7 Repeal 47 Repeal Schedule Definitions 1 In this Regulation, (a) “Act” means the Libraries Act ; (b), (b.1) repealed AR 90/2024 s2; (b.1) “intermunicipal agreement” means an intermunicipal agreement under section 12.2 of the Act; (c) “library resources” means any material, regardless of format, that is held in a library’s collection and includes books, periodicals, audio recordings, video recordings, projected media, paintings, drawings, photographs, micromaterials, toys and games, kits, CD-ROMs and electronic databases; (d) “library service point” means a library service point as defined in section 39(1) of the Act; (d.1) “Public Library Network” means the provincial resource sharing network administered by the Public Library Services Branch; (e) “resource sharing” means making available to other libraries the library resources owned by a board, the information contained in those resources and the staff expertise required to locate and make available the information or the library resources. AR 141/98 s1;172/2007;68/2008;90/2024;176/2026 Definition for Act 2 For the purposes of the Act, “basic information service” means public access to current and accurate information and assistance with making use of information, communication technology and library resources. Part 1 Boards Generally Reports of bylaws 3 (1) Every board shall file with the Minister a report that contains a copy of any bylaw passed by the board under section 36 of the Act. (2) A report under subsection (1) shall be filed (a) within one year of the board’s establishment, and (b) after the passage of any bylaw passed by the board one year or more after the board’s establishment. AR 141/98 s3;251/2001;90/2024 Reports of policies 4 (1) Every board shall file with the Minister a report that contains a copy of any policy established by the board under section 7. (2) A report under subsection (1) shall be filed (a) by a municipal library board or intermunicipal library board within 2 years of the board’s establishment, and (b) by a library system board within 3 years of the board’s establishment. (3) When a board revises a policy established by the board under section 7, the board shall file with the Minister a report that contains a copy of the revision. AR 141/98 s4;172/2007;90/2024 Meetings open to public 5 (1) Every meeting of a board is open to the public. (2) A person or group may make representations to a board at its meeting if the representations relate to the board and its programs. Public inspection of minutes, resolutions and bylaws 6 (1) Every board shall make its minutes, resolutions and bylaws available for inspection by any person (a) during the hours that the library service point is open to the public, if the board operates a library service point, or (b) during regular business hours or on request, if the board does not operate a library service point. (2) A person who inspects minutes or a resolution or bylaw under subsection (1) may copy the minutes, resolution or bylaw according to the conditions and procedures established by the board. AR 141/98 s6;90/2024 Policies 7 (1) Subject to section 36 of the Act, every board shall establish policies with respect to the following: (a) confidentiality of user records, except where disclosure is required by law; (b) orientation and continuing education of board members and staff, including expenses for such orientation and continuing education; (c) finance, including designation of expenses for which board members and staff will be reimbursed, the form and manner in which those expenses shall be claimed and the appointment of signing officers for the board. (2) Every board that operates a library service point shall, in addition to establishing policies under subsection (1), establish policies with respect to the following: (a) personnel, including job descriptions and performance appraisals for employees, qualifications for staff positions, working hours, conditions of employment and a grievance procedure; (b) selection, acquisition, purchase and disposition of library resources, including a policy respecting gifts and donations; (c) resource sharing, including participation in the Public Library Network and the conditions that apply to the acquisition of library resources and information from other sources, including inter-library loans and information in electronic databases; (d) provision of library resources to persons unable to use conventional print resources, including provision in co-operation with community agencies; (e) the terms and conditions under which library resources will be loaned to members of the public for use in a location other than the library; (f) hours of service at each library service point; (g) the terms and conditions for use of any areas of a building managed by the board that are not normally used for library purposes, including who may use those areas. (3) A library system board shall also establish a policy with respect to the provision of municipal library services to any member municipality that does not have a municipal library board and shall ensure that bylaws under section 3 and policies under subsections (1) and (2) apply to those library services. AR 141/98 s7;251/2001;90/2024 Some types of inspections 8 Without limiting the generality of section 39(2)(a) of the Act, a person appointed as an inspector may conduct an inspection (a) to determine the extent to which a board is meeting the requirement to provide comprehensive and efficient service as defined by that board, (b) repealed AR 176/2026 s3, (c) to determine the adequacy of accounting practices and financial controls, (d) to determine the use to which provincial grants are put, and (e) to assist a board in periodic reviews of its administrative practices, policies, library collections and any other matters on which a board may request advice. AR 141/98 s8;251/2001;90/2024;176/2026 Identification of inspector 9 For the purpose of section 39(5) of the Act, the identification that an inspector shall carry is an identification card that bears the inspector’s photograph and name and is accompanied by evidence of the inspector’s appointment. AR 141/98 s9;251/2001;90/2024;176/2026 When library service point may be in a school 9.1 A board shall not operate a library service point in a school unless (a) the board enters into an agreement with the school authority that sets out the responsibilities of the board and the school authority for the operation of the library service point, including the responsibilities of employees of the board and the school authority, (b) the board has its own bank account and signing officers, none of whom are employees of the school authority, and (c) in addition to any other hours that the library service point may be open to the public, the library service point is open to the public outside of the hours during which the school is in operation for regular classes, including being open during evenings or weekends, or both, and during the summer. AR 90/2024 s8 Part 2 Repealed AR 90/2024 s9. Part 3 Municipal and Intermunicipal Library Boards Plan of service 13 (1) A municipal library board or intermunicipal library board shall, within 3 years of being established, develop and file with the Minister a plan of service with a mission statement and goals and objectives based on a needs assessment of the municipality or municipalities served by the board. (2) A municipal library board or intermunicipal library board shall, at least every 5 years following the date on which the plan was previously filed, file a current plan of service with the Minister. AR 141/98 s13;193/2003;172/2007;90/2024 Employment of professional librarian 14 (1) Subject to subsection (3), the following shall, within 2 years of completing a plan of service under section 13(1), employ a graduate of a postgraduate library program in Canada or a person with equivalent qualifications from another country: (a) a municipal library board of any municipality with a population of 10 000 or more; (b) an intermunicipal library board that serves municipalities with a total population of 10 000 or more. (2) Repealed AR 193/2003 s3. (3) This section does not apply to any municipal library board or intermunicipal library board that does not operate a library service point. AR 141/98 s14;251/2001;193/2003;172/2007;90/2024 Report to Minister 15 A municipal library board or intermunicipal library board shall annually complete and file with the Minister a report in a form and containing the information required by the Minister. AR 141/98 s15;172/2007;90/2024 Requests by Minister 16 (1) For the purpose of determining if a municipal library board or intermunicipal library board is complying with the Act and this Regulation, the Minister may, by written request, require a municipal library board or intermunicipal library board to file with the Minister (a) copies of the minutes of any meeting of the board, and (b) copies of any agreement entered into by the board. (2) For the purpose of obtaining information to assist in the formulation of policies respecting matters to which the Act and this Regulation relate, the Minister may, by written request, require a municipal library board or intermunicipal library board to make any survey that the Minister considers necessary or advisable. AR 141/98 s16;172/2007;90/2024 17 Repealed AR 90/2024 s15. Contents of intermunicipal agreement 17.1 An intermunicipal agreement shall, at a minimum, contain the following: (a) a formal indication of each municipality’s desire to enter into the intermunicipal agreement; (b) a starting date for the intermunicipal agreement; (c) provision for a municipality to become a party to the intermunicipal agreement after the starting date for the agreement if (i) no more than 3 municipalities enter into the agreement initially, or (ii) the agreement is between any number of municipalities located within the existing boundaries of the same municipal district as the municipality; (d) provision for a municipality to be removed as a party to the intermunicipal agreement after the starting date for the agreement; (e) terms specifying the number of members of the intermunicipal library board each municipality that is a party to the intermunicipal library agreement may appoint, including the number of members of council of each of the municipalities that may be appointed; (e.1) provision for the appointment of a total number of members to the intermunicipal library board of not fewer than 7 and not more than 15, of whom no more than 40% may be members of council of any municipality that is a party to the intermunicipal agreement; (f) the annual date by which the intermunicipal library board must submit a budget and an estimate of the money required during the next fiscal year to each municipality that is a party to the intermunicipal agreement; (g) terms specifying how the intermunicipal library board must calculate the estimate of the money required during the next fiscal year and each municipality’s share of that money, the date on which payment of the money becomes due from each municipality, and how the money is to be paid; (h) terms specifying the form of the financial report to be prepared under section 12.2 of the Act and setting out a process for the approval of the qualifications of the person who will review the financial records of the intermunicipal library board and prepare the financial report; (i) terms governing the process for amending and terminating the intermunicipal agreement; (j) details of the rights, assets and liabilities that each municipality that is a party to the intermunicipal agreement will transfer to the intermunicipal library board on the formation of the board; (j.1) details of the rights, assets and liabilities that a municipality that becomes a party to the intermunicipal agreement after the starting date of the agreement will transfer to the intermunicipal library board; (k) where the intermunicipal agreement is an agreement between 3 or more municipalities, terms respecting the transfer of the rights, assets and liabilities of the intermunicipal library board in the event that one of the municipalities withdraws from the agreement; (l) a procedure to be used to resolve or attempt to resolve any conflict between the municipalities that are parties to the intermunicipal agreement; (m) terms respecting the notice that a municipality must give to the intermunicipal library board and to the other municipalities that are parties to the intermunicipal agreement before making an application under section 17.2. (n) terms governing the process by which a bylaw passed by the intermunicipal library board may be disallowed. AR 172/2007 s10;90/2024;158/2025 Dissolution of intermunicipal library board 17.2 (1) The council of a municipality that is a party to an intermunicipal agreement may, by bylaw, authorize the municipality to apply to the Minister to dissolve the intermunicipal library board. (2) An application to the Minister to dissolve an intermunicipal library board must contain a proposed winding‑up plan that addresses the transfer of all of the rights, assets and liabilities of the intermunicipal library board. (3) If complete applications to dissolve an intermunicipal library board are received (a) from one or both municipalities that are parties to an intermunicipal agreement that is between 2 municipalities, or (b) from a majority of the parties to an intermunicipal agreement that is between 3 or more municipalities, the Minister may, by order, dissolve the intermunicipal library board and transfer the rights, assets and liabilities of the intermunicipal library board in accordance with the proposed winding‑up plan or in any other manner the Minister considers appropriate if the municipalities cannot agree as to how the rights, assets and liabilities should be distributed. AR 172/2007 s10;90/2024 Part 4 Library System Boards Plan of service 18 (1) In managing and controlling a library system, a library system board shall, within 4 years of being established, develop and file with the Minister a plan of service with a mission statement and goals and objectives based on an assessment of (a) the needs of the municipal library boards and intermunicipal library boards within the library system, (b) the library needs of those school authorities that are parties to an agreement referred to in section 13 of the Act, and (c) the need for public library service generally. (2) A library system board shall, at least every 5 years following the date on which the plan was previously filed, file a current plan of service with the Minister. (3) Repealed AR 90/2024 s18. AR 141/98 s18;251/2001;193/2003;172/2007;90/2024 Employment of professional librarians 19 (1) A library system board shall employ, for every 25 000 persons that it serves, a graduate of a postgraduate library program in Canada or a person with equivalent qualifications from another country. (2) A calculation under subsection (1) of the number of persons that a library system board serves shall exclude the population of any municipality in which a municipal library board or intermunicipal library board employs a person under section 14. AR 141/98 s19;172/2007;90/2024 Reports to Minister 20 (1) A library system board shall annually complete and file with the Minister a report in a form and containing the information required by the Minister with respect to (a) the library system board, and (b) each library service point as specified by the Minister. (2) Repealed AR 90/2024 s20. AR 141/98 s20;90/2024 Requests by Minister 21 (1) For the purpose of obtaining information to assist in the formulation of policies respecting matters to which the Act and this Regulation relate, the Minister may, by written request, require a library system board to make any survey that the Minister considers necessary or advisable. (2) The Minister may, by written request, require a library system board to provide any information that the Minister considers necessary to undertake a systematic review of library services within the library system. AR 141/98 s21;90/2024 Part 5 Completion of Library Systems Definitions 22 In this Part, (a) “agreement” means an agreement referred to in section 13 of the Act; (b) “jurisdiction” means a municipality, an improvement district, a special area or a Metis settlement; (c) “resource centre” means a municipal library within a library system that the library system board designates as a resource centre. AR 141/98 s22;251/2001 Library system membership 23 A jurisdiction or school authority shall not request the Minister to establish a library system under section 13 of the Act unless a minimum of 75% of the parties to the agreement are jurisdictions. AR 141/98 s23;251/2001 Resolutions before membership 24 (1) Before a jurisdiction that is not a party to an intermunicipal agreement becomes a member of a library system, (a) the municipal library board in the jurisdiction shall pass a resolution accepting service from the library system board and providing its recommendations to the jurisdiction’s council with respect to the agreement, and (b) the jurisdiction’s council shall pass a resolution assenting to the agreement. (1.1) Before a jurisdiction that is a party to an intermunicipal agreement becomes a member of a library system, (a) the intermunicipal library board established by the intermunicipal agreement shall pass a resolution accepting service from the library system board for that jurisdiction and providing its recommendations to the council of each jurisdiction that is a party to the intermunicipal agreement with respect to the agreement, and (b) the jurisdiction’s council shall pass a resolution assenting to the agreement. (2) Before a school authority becomes a member of a library system, it shall pass a resolution accepting service from the library system board on the terms and conditions prescribed by that board. AR 141/98 s24;172/2007;90/2024 Contents of agreement 25 (1) An agreement shall at a minimum contain the following terms: (a) a formal indication of the parties’ desire to enter into an agreement; (b) a starting date for the agreement; (c) provision for parties to become members of the library system after the starting date; (d) terms setting out the powers and duties of the library system board; (e) provision for the establishment of an executive committee of not more than 10 persons when the number of members of the library system board is more than 20, and a statement of the powers and duties of that committee; (f) terms specifying how to calculate the estimate of the money required under section 18 of the Act, the date on which payment of the money becomes due and how the money is to be paid; (g) an explanation of the financial relationship between the library system board and the parties to the agreement; (h) an explanation of the financial relationship between the library system board and the municipal library boards and intermunicipal library boards; (i) terms setting out the services that the library system board will provide, including a commitment to make all library resources acquired by the board available to all residents served by the library system; (j) an explanation of the relationship between the library system board, the municipal library boards, the intermunicipal library boards and the board of the resource centre respecting the provision of library services, subject to section 19 of the Act; (k) provision for expansion of the library system to all jurisdictions within the prescribed boundaries; (l) repealed AR 90/2024 s23; (m) terms governing the method for amendment, extension and renewal of the agreement; (n) terms governing the notification municipal library boards and intermunicipal library boards are to receive of any amendment, extension or renewal of the agreement. (2) An agreement shall be signed by the persons authorized by the councils to enter into the agreement and by the chairs of municipal library boards and intermunicipal library boards where they exist. (3) to (5) Repealed AR 180/2013 s2. AR 141/98 s25;251/2001;193/2003;172/2007;180/2013; 90/2024 Notice of withdrawal 26 If a party to an agreement gives notice of withdrawal under section 22 of the Act, the library system board (a) shall, not later than 90 days prior to the effective date of withdrawal, provide to that party’s council and municipal library board or intermunicipal library board, if any, a written appraisal of the expected effects of that withdrawal on the provision of library services to the residents of that jurisdiction or school authority, and (b) may request a review by that party’s council and municipal library board or intermunicipal library board, if any, of the notice of withdrawal. AR 141/98 s26;251/2001;172/2007;90/2024 Request to Minister 27 (1) A jurisdiction or school authority that wants to become a member of an existing library system shall forward to the Minister a request to that effect. (2) Section 23 applies to an application under this section. (3) The Minister shall not approve an application to join an existing library system unless a minimum of 75% of the parties to the agreement are jurisdictions. 28 Repealed AR 90/2024 s25. Personal property of municipal and intermunicipal library boards 29 All personal property of a municipal library board or intermunicipal library board on the date on which a council signs an agreement affecting the board remains the property of the municipal library board or intermunicipal library board. AR 141/98 s29;172/2007;90/2024 Real property of library system board 30 A library system board may not hold or own real property unless it is required for the purposes of administering the library system or for distribution of library resources. Advisory committee 31 (1) A member of a library system board who is appointed by the council of a jurisdiction that does not have a municipal library board or intermunicipal library board may receive any concerns respecting library service to that jurisdiction’s residents from an advisory committee appointed by the council to transmit those concerns. (2) If a council does not appoint an advisory committee, the library system board may appoint an advisory committee to act under subsection (1). AR 141/98 s31;172/2007;90/2024 Library system board members 32 (1) Repealed AR 90/2024 s28. (2) An appointment under section 16(a) of the Act shall not exceed a term of 3 years. (3) A council of a municipality, Metis settlement or school authority shall not appoint a member under section 16(a) of the Act to serve for more than 9 consecutive years without the approval of 2/3 of all the members of that council. (4) Repealed AR 90/2024 s28. (5) Subject to subsection (6), a council may, with respect to appointments under section 16(a) of the Act, appoint an alternate member to the library system board if its library system board member (a) is unable to attend a meeting of the library system board, and (b) has given notice to the library system board that an alternate member will attend. (6) The alternate member shall not act in place of the library system board member at more than 2 consecutive meetings except by resolution of the library system board. AR 141/98 s32;251/2001;90/2024 Appointment of additional members 33 (1) Repealed AR 90/2024 s29. (2) The board of a resource centre may, pursuant to section 16(d) of the Act, appoint one additional member to the library system board for a term not exceeding 3 years. AR 141/98 s33;251/2001;90/2024 Library system boundaries 34 (1) For the purposes of section 14(1)(b) of the Act, the boundaries of each library system are as set out in the Schedule to this Regulation. (2) Notwithstanding the Schedule, the municipality of Swan Hills may join either the Peace or Yellowhead library systems. AR 141/98 s34;282/99;251/2001;90/2024 Public Library Network 35 Every jurisdiction and school authority that is a member of a library system shall, for the purpose of managing its library services or public libraries, meet the requirements of the Public Library Network. AR 141/98 s35;90/2024 Part 5.1 Access, Use and Borrowing of Library Resources Definitions 35.1 In this Part, (a) “library computer” means a computer or other personal computing device that is (i) located on library premises, and (ii) provided by a board for use by the public; (b) “library gaming system” means a video game console designed primarily for use in playing video games that is (i) located on library premises, and (ii) provided by a board for use by the public; (c) “literary materials” means books, periodicals, comics, graphic novels and other literary or graphic materials; (d) “sexual act” means an activity or action of a distinctly sexual nature, including but not limited to (i) masturbation, including touching of a person’s own genitals or anus with a hand, finger, artificial sexual organ or other substitute for a sexual organ, (ii) penetration of the penis into the vagina or anus, (iii) contact of a sexual nature between the genitalia, mouth, hand, finger or other body part with the unclothed genitalia, pubic area, buttocks, anus or, if the person is female, breast of another person, (iv) ejaculation onto or into another person, or (v) the use of artificial sexual organs or substitutes for sexual organs on the clothed or unclothed genitalia, pubic area, buttocks, anus or, if the person is female, breast of another person, but does not include an activity or action that is not distinctly sexual in nature, such as physical contact related to medical conditions, examinations or treatment, actions or activities related to biological functions or processes, such as puberty, menstruation, pregnancy or breastfeeding, or actions or activities that may be related to sexual acts, such as kissing or hand‑holding; (e) “video game” means a moving image that provides an interactive game of skill, dexterity or knowledge where the player of the game varies the nature or sequence of the visual images by operating a device, including a computer, video game console or other technology, that produces the images; (f) “video recording” means a motion picture, television program or other audiovisual recorded entertainment contained on a medium from which moving visual images may be produced; (g) “visual depiction” means a visual or graphic representation, such as a drawing or painting, an illustration, a photographic or digital image or a video recording. AR 176/2026 s5 Restricted library resources — use or borrowing 35.2 (1) Beginning on January 1, 2027, a board shall not allow a person 15 years of age or younger to use or borrow library resources that contain a visual depiction of a sexual act unless the person’s parent or guardian provides the board authorization for the person to use or borrow library resources of that kind. (2) Subsection (1) applies with respect to only the following library resources: (a) literary materials; (b) video games; (c) video recordings. AR 176/2026 s5 Restricted library resources — location and access 35.3 (1) Beginning on January 1, 2027, a board shall keep library resources that contain a visual depiction of a sexual act (a) physically separate from other library resources, and (b) in a location where library staff can control and regulate access in accordance with subsection (5). (2) Subsection (1) applies with respect to only the following library resources: (a) literary materials; (b) video games; (c) video recordings. (3) Subsection (1) applies only when library resources are made available for use by or loan to members of the public. (4) For greater certainty, subsection (1) does not apply when library resources are located in an area of a library’s premises where (a) returned library resources are collected, or (b) library staff sort and prepare library resources for cataloguing, shelving or transportation. (5) A board may allow only the following persons to access library resources that contain a visual depiction of a sexual act: (a) persons 16 years of age or older; (b) persons 15 years of age or younger whose parent or guardian has provided the board authorization for the person to use or borrow library resources of that kind. AR 176/2026 s5 Policies re restricted library resources 35.4 For the purposes of sections 35.2 and 35.3, a board shall establish policies with respect to the following: (a) the methods by which the board shall determine (i) the age of a person, and (ii) whether a parent’s or guardian’s authorization has been received; (b) the process by which the board shall determine whether a library resource is subject to the access, use and borrowing restrictions. AR 176/2026 s5 Policies re borrowing and use of technology 35.5 In addition to the policies established under sections 7 and 35.4, a board shall establish policies with respect to the following: (a) the issuance of library borrowing cards to persons 15 years of age or younger; (b) the use of a library computer to access the internet by persons 15 years of age or younger; (c) the use of a library computer or library gaming system to play a video game by persons 15 years of age or younger; (d) the methods by which the board shall determine, for the purpose of implementing the policies referred to in clauses (a) to (d), the age of a person. AR 176/2026 s5 Policies re library service points in schools 35.6 (1) This section applies only to a board that operates a library service point in a school. (2) In addition to the policies required under sections 7, 35.4 and 35.5, a board shall, in a policy, establish a process for the following persons to request the board to review and to remove or impose, as the case may be, restrictions on the access, use and borrowing of a library resource in a library service point in a school: (a) a student enrolled in a school in which the board operates a library service point; (b) a parent or guardian of a student enrolled in a school in which the board operates a library service point; (c) an employee or member of the council of a school authority that operates a school in which a library service point operated by the board is located; (d) a member of the public with a direct connection to the school in which the library service point operated by the board is located; (e) a holder of a library borrowing card issued by the board. (3) A board shall, in respect of each library service point it operates in a school, (a) regularly review the library resources available for use or loan at the library service point to ensure the board complies with this Regulation, and (b) provide to the Minister, on request, any information and reports on the library resources available for use or loan at the library service point. AR 176/2026 s5 Compliance 35.7 (1) A board shall, by no later than January 1, 2027, (a) establish the policies required under this Part, and (b) make the policies publicly available. (2) A board shall, by no later than January 1, 2027, send the Minister written confirmation that it is in compliance with the requirements of this Part. AR 176/2026 s5 Part 6 Repealed AR 90/2024 s32. Part 7 Repeal Repeal 47 The Libraries Regulation (AR 342/84) is repealed. 48 Repealed AR 134/2018 s3. Schedule AR 141/98 Sched;90/2024