Intellectual Freedom

Intellectual Freedom

Imagine a world where books disappear from shelves, questions aren’t allowed, and only certain ideas can be shared.

Without intellectual freedom, people can’t fully learn, explore, or understand each other.

In Canada, intellectual freedom is protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Charter allows people the right to think for themselves, share ideas, and access information without censorship.

You use that freedom every time you read a book or a newspaper, watch a film or listen to your favourite podcast. It’s how you discover new worlds and ideas, challenge your mind, and connect with community.

Regina Public Library supports intellectual freedom by offering books, resources, and ideas from many different viewpoints. We don’t promote or judge the things we offer: we provide them so people can learn, ask questions, and form their own opinions.

We trust our community to engage with information thoughtfully and make their own informed choices.

Not everyone will agree with or like everything they find at the library, and that’s okay.

People have different backgrounds, beliefs, and interests, and a public library serves the whole community.

Providing access to a wide range of ideas means individuals can choose what works for them, while others are free to make different choices.

Intellectual freedom respects those differences and allows everyone to explore ideas in their own way.

RPL endorses the Canadian Federation of Library Associations’ (CFLA) Statement on Intellectual Freedom and Libraries. The statement acknowledges the importance of libraries in helping people access information at low or no cost and support reading, learning, culture, and participation in society.

By protecting intellectual freedom, Regina Public Library supports an open, inclusive, and informed community where curiosity, learning, and respectful exchange of ideas can thrive.

Online Resources

Reading Lists

 

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Help Articles

Wireless Internet WiFi

Like books, magazines, and other documents, the Internet is a method of sharing information. We respect our customers' use of the Internet to find information. We offer unfiltered access, but all users must comply with the library's Internet Acess Policy.

Suggesting Materials for Purchase

Regina Public Library is a publicly-funded library that provides free access to information that is legally available and meets specific criteria. We look at book reviews, demand, customer requests, and more in order to choose books for our collections. Customers choose to read a book for many reasons, and it's not the library's role to questions those reasons or limit access. 

Library Cards

We encourage parents to be actively involved in assessing and selecting the books and other media they feel are appropriate for their children to read, watch, listen to, or play. RPL makes a wide range of materials available to meet our customers' diverse needs and interests, however:

  • Children under age 14 must have a signature from their parents or guardians to register for a library card.
  • Parents and guardians can access all borrowing records for children under age 14.
  • Young adults aged 14 to 17 do not need a parental or guardian signature to register for a library card.
    • Parents or guardians of young adults can access the financial portion of their child's records on request, after verifying their identity. 

Room Reservations

Regina Public Library offers room bookings to external organizations, community groups, and Regina residents.

RPL does not endorse the views of facility renters, nor does rental to one organization preclude rental to other organizations. Third-party rentals are not sponsored by the library nor are they considered library programs.

RPL ensures responsible use of our meeting spaces through our Room Use and Rental Policy.

Providing space to community organizations is part of our commitment to intellectual freedom. That commitment includes the provision of public spaces and services to individuals and groups without discrimination. 

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