Vancouver Public Library - Library in The News

Library in The News

In September, 2009, the library cancelled a room booking made by the group Exit International to hold a workshop by Dr. Philip Nitschke about assisted suicide. The cancellation came despite months of negotiation between Exit and library administration. The library stated that it had received a legal opinion stating the workshop as described could contravene Canada's Criminal Code, but would not make the opinion public. The workshop was held at Vancouver's Unitarian Church. "Whatever the reasons of the library were, it's obviously not affecting the decision by the Unitarian Church," Dr Nitschke said. David Eby, executive director of the BC Civil Liberties Association, which tried unsuccessfully to get the ban lifted, said "Usually, librarians are our closest allies in this free-speech debate."