The Timberlands Branch of the Red Deer Public Library is hosting an upcoming session of its Read or Reread Book Club: Banned Books Edition on April 29, 2026, at 7 p.m. to discuss Toni Morrison’s novel, The Bluest Eye.
The library launched the club to meet local demand and to celebrate the principles of intellectual freedom. This initiative follows the success of other library efforts, such as the popular “I’m with the banned” book bags introduced during Freedom to Read Week earlier this year. Previous meetings have explored challenged titles including George Orwell’s Animal Farm, John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, and David Guterson’s Snow Falling on Cedars.
The program takes place as the provincial government introduces Bill 28, which proposes changes to the Libraries Act. The legislation would allow the municipal affairs minister to initiate reviews of library materials, require the physical separation of certain books, and mandate parental approval for library users under 16 to access specific items.
The Coalition of Alberta Public Libraries, which represents hundreds of library service points across the province, has condemned the proposed changes as an act of censorship. The coalition notes that libraries are designed to provide equitable access to information and emphasizes that its members were not consulted regarding the new provincial rules.
According to research commissioned by the coalition in January 2026, there is strong public support for local management of library collections. The data shows that 82 per cent of Albertans trust their local public libraries to make appropriate decisions about materials, while 69 per cent believe those decisions should remain local rather than being subject to province-wide regulations.
The Red Deer Public Library, established in 1914, continues to highlight the importance of community-led governance. The Timberlands Branch, which serves East Red Deer, was opened in 2014 as a partnership with the local elementary school and remains a key location for the library’s ongoing efforts to promote reading and open discussion.
