Image Credit: Gallatin Public Library
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
A proposal introduced on Monday evening by the Sumner County Library Board aims to comply with state law in keeping inappropriate books out of the hands of children.
Instead of each individual library within Sumner County deciding what should be included in their collections, the proposal would allow the library board to have the last word on both materials and fundraising.
Amid loud disruptions by residents who oppose this conservative stance – including some who stormed out – Library Board President Joanna Daniels stood by the proposed changes citing recent state legislation restricting access to inappropriate materials in public schools, as well as protecting female athletes, and Tennessee’s ban on mutilating surgeries for children with gender dysphoria.
Daniels argued that books regarding LGBTQ topics should be kept off the shelves of public libraries as they may violate state laws.
Residents that disagree say that local librarians should make the decisions about what goes into a collection for the general public and not the board, who they believe is guilty of overstepping.
The proposal also addressed how local libraries can go about raising funds, ultimately placing this under the board’s authority.
In the end, a vote sent the proposal back to the drawing board for more work. The next board meeting is in July.
Opponents of the proposal promise to show up in greater numbers and with more volume.
When another Middle Tennessee county took action in March to remove transgender books from county libraries, the decision was both lauded and decried by local residents and drew national attention from free speech rights organizations, Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) in Philadelphia and the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) in New York.
FIRE sent a letter to the Rutherford County Library System (RCLS), accusing RCLS of violating both the first amendment and the board’s own policy.
The public board’s 5 to 3 vote removed material promoting, encouraging, or advocating for transgenderism or that creates confusion about gender for minors.
The Sumner County Library Board is likewise no stranger to controversy in its efforts to protect the innocence of children.
After Sumner’s library board voted in a policy to protect children from sexually explicit material they have seen their efforts to run a successful board stymied by its own local government.
Since the 2023 policy was created, the board has struggled to get vacancies on the board filled.
The County Commission has allegedly been acting against the will of the people who elected them and going against the board that has been dedicated to making sure the county libraries are safe places for families.
In January, the majority of county commissioners voted against two qualified conservative candidates who had the overwhelming support of the public.
Residents of Sumner County who appreciate the work of the Library Board in their county should consider attending the July meeting to support the conservative measures that are still up in the air for now.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
