HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Back on the books.

The Sumner County Library Board will discuss a controversial book collection policy once again, just over a month since it was voted down.

“It’s a little shocking that it’s back immediately,” Sumner County Democratic Party Chair Megan Lange said. “But we’re prepared; we’re ready, and we are not going to let it pass without another fight.”

Sumner County Library Board Chair Joanna Daniels is determined to revise the county's library collections, removing any materials with sexual or transgender content.

The proposed policy would also create new guidelines for book-signing events at libraries, change how residents appeal removed materials, and eliminate any adherence to the American Library Association. 

“What this boils down (to) is control. Public libraries are a gateway to information and knowledge for everyone. Education is freedom,” one woman said during the library board’s last meeting on July 9.

“I would say that we are at a tipping point," Lange said. "There are citizens who are lined up. There’s a list of at least five people who are ready, at this point, to put their names on a lawsuit."

Lange is hopeful the board will continue to vote against the policy, at least until Daniels is no longer in charge.

“Her term ends in November, and I think this is something she wants to accomplish before her term ends,” Lange said.

Daniels, meanwhile, told News 2 the policy is based on research she conducted on other library board guidelines and what the state requires of them.

She insists that everything they’ve done, or will do, is legal and fits what the majority of their community wants. 

“We’re not discriminating. Nothing that we have done — no policy we've created, no job qualification we've created — have gone against anything,” Daniels said. “Just because something isn’t in there that you want to read doesn’t make it unsafe. We also have Amazon. We have book stores; you can go down to the Nashville library.”

Daniels said she isn’t worried about a possible lawsuit, given they haven’t broken any laws. 

Some residents disagree.

“If this is passed, it is a violation of the 14th Amendment,” Lange said. “The county may not have done anything ‘illegal’ yet, but they’re walking precariously close to the line, and when they cross that, we are ready to file a lawsuit and hold them accountable.”

The Sumner County Library Board will also discuss a persisting issue at two of their public libraries: open library director positions in both Hendersonville and Westmoreland.

The qualifications of the candidates and whether each person is being given a fair evaluation have become a lingering point of contention.

Daniels told News 2 that candidates she’s in favor of have not been spoken to or fairly evaluated by certain board members. Meanwhile, Lange said most of the candidates brought forward do not have library experience and lack the qualifications that should be required.

Sumner County’s library board will meet at 3:30 p.m. in Gallatin on Wednesday.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/sumner-county-to-discuss-again-book-collection-policy-for-public-libraries/