MEDIA RELEASE: ASCA's Statement Regarding Ministerial Order on School Library Materials Standards
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Edmonton, AB – July 10, 2025 – "While Alberta School Councils’ Association (ASCA) supports consistency in school library material standards across the province", says President Ken Glazebrook, "support for school professionals is missing in the implementation of the new Standards for the Selection, Availability, and Access of School Library Materials Ministerial Order."
“School library practitioners and educators have the specialized skills needed to assess materials in the ways required in these new standards,” he said. “This Ministerial Order, unfortunately, overlooks their training and downloads these responsibilities onto educators who are already juggling so much.”
ASCA has continually advocated to the Ministry of Education and Childcare for targeted funding for libraries and their associated programming, which includes the professionals who support these vital education hubs.ⁱ While schools that share municipally funded library facilities may choose to collaborate with those library professionals, this is not the reality for the majority of school libraries in Alberta and leaves most schools without adequate support to ensure up-to-date and age-appropriate content for our students.
"Given the expedited timeline between consultation and policy development", added Glazebrook, "it is unlikely enough consultation was given to all education stakeholders." He highlighted again that ASCA is ready, willing, and able to support consultation opportunities at any point in the policy development process to ensure the parent voice is appropriately represented.