Bill 28: What This Could Mean for the Future of the Collicutt Branch

The Government of Alberta has indicated that regulations under Bill 28, opens a new window may require age-based restrictions on borrowing and access to materials. Enforcing these restrictions could require proof of age, parental consent verification, and staff-mediated access, creating new barriers for Albertans simply trying to use their public library.

For RDPL, this presents an additional threat to a service our community relies on and values deeply. Our well-loved and heavily used Collicutt Branch, opens a new window operates using a self-serve model, meaning staff are not present on-site for the majority of the day. This allows us to extend basic library services to the southeast corner of the city in a highly cost-effective way. On most days, staff are on-site for only a few hours to process holds and returns, restock shelves, offer select programs, and keep the branch welcoming and well-maintained. The model works exceptionally well and has become a convenient, valued access point for our community. 

But if libraries are required to verify the age of every person accessing certain materials, how would that even work in a self-serve environment where customers independently browse the small collection and pick up holds?

The short answer is: it won't.

Now that Bill 28 has passed, we are very concerned about potential staff-mediated access and ID requirements that would simply not be feasible in a self-serve location where library staff are not present. The provincial government has confirmed that no additional funding will be provided to libraries to implement the changes outlined in Bill 28. In practical terms, with no funding to increase staffing hours, this could ultimately lead to the closure of the Collicutt Branch. This would be a devastating loss for our community. 

Furthermore, the proposed restrictions could also apply not only to books, but to DVDs, magazines, video games, and digital resources, requiring libraries to remove materials from public access and store them behind a counter or in a separate restricted area. At the Collicutt Branch, there is no service counter at all, nor is there any additional space that could feasibly accommodate this kind of restricted-access model for materials that have always been openly shelved alongside other library materials without issue. Even in our larger branches, there is no practical or realistic way to create these so-called “locked room” spaces without dramatically disrupting public access and the everyday operation of the library.

We know that Red Deerians LOVE the convenience of holds pickup at the Collicutt Branch – we hear it time and time again – with free parking and extended hours that go far beyond the hours of service that we are able to offer at our three staffed locations. Despite its tiny size, the Collicutt Branch accounted for over 17% of our total library visits in 2025, and we lent out 35,688 items from that location. 

Throughout the day, the branch is filled with community members weaving library visits into their daily routines. Parents and young children browse books and read together while waiting for older siblings in recreation programs, families stop in after swimming lessons or sports activities to pick up holds or explore the shelves, and seniors often visit after walking the track or attending fitness programs. Our weekly storytimes at the branch are among the most well-attended early literacy programs we offer. Parents and caregivers happily pack the space each week, joining us with their babies, toddlers, and preschoolers for stories, songs, rhymes, and early learning fun.

Bill 28 puts the future of this service at risk.

If access to the Collicutt Branch matters to you – as well as your right to access information and ideas freely, without unnecessary restriction – now is a critical time to share your voice with provincial decision-makers.