Intellectual Freedom

Walk into any branch and you'll find a wide range of books, video games, DVDs and other materials. We don't condemn, endorse or advocate materials on our shelves. Nor do we mark or identify materials to show approval or disapproval of the contents. Why? Because it's your "right to know." It's your right to explore freely and use these materials to develop your own informed thoughts and opinions.

All materials at EPL are selected by expert staff with specialized education and knowledge in collection development principles that are based on the following criteria: 

• Relevance to our community's needs 

• Importance as a historical document or as a current event 

• Relation to the existing collection and other materials on the subject 

• Popularity and local demand 

We also take into account the expertise, comprehensive treatment of a subject, clarity and representation of different points of view (including extreme or minority points of view).

EPL is committed to building a diverse, robust, and balanced collection that serves all of Edmonton. If you're interested in a title that's not currently in the Edmonton Public Library catalogue, we encourage you to suggest an item for purchase.

Our team of Collections Librarians follow EPL's Collection Development Policy to ensure that we have a healthy and balanced collection.

If you believe an item should be reconsidered or relocated within the collection, you can read our policy, opens a new window and submit a request by filling out this form, opens a new window. 
 
All requests are taken seriously, documented, opens a new window, and will receive a response. 
 
If you believe there are better materials available expressing certain viewpoints, you can make suggestions, opens a new window for new items at any branch or on our website. 

EPL offers meeting rooms for public rental guided by our commitment to intellectual freedom, equitable access, and civic participation. As a public library, we uphold the right of individuals and groups to gather peacefully, share ideas, and engage in dialogue — even when those ideas differ from our own or from those of the broader community. 
 
We do not endorse the views or activities of those who rent our spaces. Instead, we provide access based on clear policies that prioritize access and usage that is aligned with EPL’s Library Use, opens a new window and Customer Conduct, opens a new window policies. This approach reflects our role as a civic space — one that supports democratic engagement and ensures that all Edmontonians have the opportunity to convene and connect. 

Parents and guardians are the best judges of what is appropriate for their children. We encourage families to have ongoing conversations about reading, viewing and listening choices. Children under 18 must have permission from their parents or guardians to get a library card. That card provides access to all materials in our collection, so we recommend regular review of borrowing activity and open dialogue at home. 
 
We also make it easy for families to find age-appropriate resources by clearly identifying and organizing children's materials. This ensures that they are easy to locate and access.