Anderson County library board orders review of juvenile-section titles and votes to remove books it deems to promote "gender ideology"

The Anderson County Library Board voted Thursday night to hold juvenile-section books identified by librarians and community reviewers for board consideration and later approved a separate motion to remove titles it deems to "promote gender ideology." The decisions followed a 30-minute public-comment block in which residents both defended librarians and urged removals of specific titles.

The vote to hold flagged juvenile titles pending board review came after trustee Jess Ann Cole moved that "books in the juvenile section . . . be reviewed to be in compliance with President Trump's executive order, Secretary of State Hargett's directive, and the Tennessee age-appropriateness law," and that any titles found not in compliance be held off circulation until the board could examine them. The chair clarified that the Secretary of State letter asked libraries to make sure flagged titles were not shelved in children's sections; many trustees framed the issue as age-appropriate access and compliance with recent state guidance. The motion to hold flagged juvenile titles passed on a hand vote; the chair announced six members in favor.

Why it matters: trustees and the public said the outcome affects which materials local minors can access without parental supervision. Librarians had already run searches across branches: trustees reported roughly 45 titles flagged at Clinton, 11 at Bryceville and six at Rocky Top. Board members and members of the public differed on whether those counts reflected true policy violations or broad keyword hits that capture civil-rights and historical material.

Public testimony was sharply divided. Jason Chandler, who identified a young-adult call number and read aloud from a contested title he listed as "Queer Ducks," said the text was within reach of a 5-year-old and called it "horrible"; several other speakers urged the board to protect children from material they described as pornographic. By contrast, Elizabeth Ibsen said she supported librarians and recalled an earlier compromise that placed disputed books in a separate location that parents could request. "No one is saying that you can't read the book," Darla Williams said while asking, "What criteria are used to select books for our libraries?"

Board action and the review process: trustees described a two-step pattern already underway: librarians performed an initial electronic search, removed or set aside titles the search flagged, and made lists available to trustees. The board voted to invite community input and to allow trustees to examine lists; trustees discussed the existing reconsideration policy, which calls for a subcommittee of two trustees and a director from a different branch to read and recommend. For the formal challenge to Two Boys Kissing, trustees volunteered Daphne and Eddie (and a trustee) to carry out the subcommittee review with a target of two weeks to examine the title.

Other motions related to books: trustees also voted to require that titles the libraries plan to purchase be posted on the library's website in advance of circulation so the public could review proposed acquisitions. That motion carried on a hand vote (5 in favor, 4 opposed). Later in the meeting, Cole moved that any titles the board finds to "promote gender ideology" be removed from the library; that motion passed on a hand vote reported as 5 in favor and 4 opposed.

What remains unresolved: board members noted that many flagged items were historical or civil-rights titles that mention gender and may not meet the "gender ideology" standard described in the Secretary of State guidance. Several trustees cautioned that the reconsideration process is time consuming: "Every board member has to read the book," Cole said, and suggested streamlining decisions by preparing a vetted list for vote rather than re-reading every challenged title at a public meeting.

Next steps: librarians will continue the initial review and provide lists; board members and the public will have the opportunity to examine flagged titles under the board's reconsideration process; a subcommittee was assigned to review the formal challenge to Two Boys Kissing and will report back on its recommendation.

Votes at a glance: the board voted to (1) hold juvenile-section books flagged by the librarians pending board review (motion passed; hand count announced as six in favor), (2) require planned-purchase lists be posted on the library website (motion passed; hand vote reported 5–4), and (3) remove titles the board finds to promote "gender ideology" (motion passed; hand vote reported 5–4).