OPL Board Commitment to Intellectual Freedom and Support for National Association Advocacy - Motion (Chair Matthew Luloff)
WHEREAS the Ottawa Public Library (OPL) Board has taken a strong stand in support of free and open access to information as a cornerstone to a democratic society, respecting individual rights to both privacy and choice, as reflected in OPL’s Intellectual Freedom Position Statement; and, WHEREAS the proposed amendments to the Alberta Libraries Act in Bill 28 represent a significant departure from long-standing Canadian public library principles, including independent, locally governed library boards and professional, evidence-based collection management, and set a concerning precedent with potential implications for public libraries across Canada; and, WHEREAS national library associations have raised concerns that legislated restrictions on access to library materials risk undermining intellectual freedom, eroding personal privacy, and weakening public trust in libraries; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Ottawa Public Library Board reaffirm its commitment to intellectual freedom as described in the Board’s position statement; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the OPL Board express its support for the statement made by the Canadian Urban Libraries Council (CULC), in turn supporting the  April 2, 2026 statement by the Coalition of Alberta Public Libraries (CAP Libraries); and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the OPL Board direct the CEO and Chief Librarian to communicate this resolution to the Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA), the Federation of Ontario Public Libraries (FOPL), CAP Libraries, and CULC.