Image Credit: Gallatin Public Library
The Tennessee Conservative Staff –
Proposed changes to the already existing Collection Development and Management policy on Monday evening by the Sumner County Library Board aims to keep books promoting the transgender ideology and agenda out of the hands of children.
Another controversial policy that was passed during the meeting was the fundraising policy for events held on the premises of the libraries in support of the libraries.
This policy comes just 5 months after the Pride Christmas tree was at the Gallatin Library during a fundraiser that was organized by the Friends group. The Library Board was flooded with emails from the public but the Library Board had no part in the planning or executing of the fundraiser.
Chairman Joanna Daniels stated that she had reached out numerous times to the Friends of Gallatin with questions but no one has ever responded. Even though the fundraiser was sponsored by the Friends of the Gallatin Library and public opposition was prevalent the Friends did not take action to remove the tree. The tree was removed at the direction of Representative William Lamberth and Mayor John Isbell.
Included in the proposed changes for the Collection and Development Policy, in addition to taking on the transgender subject the proposed policy would give the Library Board the full responsibility to decide on the validity of challenged books brought by patrons of the library. As the policy stands now the Library Directors are to review the books and let the Library Board know their decision.
Chairman Joanna Daniels stated that the Library Board has not heard from the Library Directors pertaining to books that were challenged months ago due to sexually explicit materials in Portland and Millersville and transgender themes found in the children’s section of the Portland Library.
Amid loud disruptions by residents who oppose this conservative stance – including some who stormed out – Library Board Chairman Joanna Daniels stood by her proposed changes citing recent state legislation protecting female athletes, segregating bathrooms to biological sex, Tennessee sex education that does not allow the transgender topic, and Tennessee’s ban on mutilating surgeries for children with gender dysphoria.
Daniels argued that books promoting and endorsing the transgender topic should be kept off the shelves of public libraries as she believes the Library Board has the authority to not allow the use of government funds to purchase materials that promote what is contrary to and inconsistent with those 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.
According to Chairman Daniels, since the Sumner County Library Board is the governing body of the libraries it is the responsibility of the Board to have oversight of the books in the Library.
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 to the tune of almost 400 emails. After refusing to appoint the two candidates the County Commission then voted to reduce the Library Board seats from 11 down to 9.
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.
