Why None of Us Will “Win” The Library Board Debate

Thanks to SCDP member Sam Primrose for this write-up. This is an editorial piece and does not reflect the views or opinions of the Sumner County Democratic Party.

The latest Sumner County Library Board meeting was a packed house. Residents turned out in droves to debate the board’s proposed Collections Policy. This policy has generated controversy for months, particularly because it seeks to remove “transgender and gender confusing materials” from Sumner County library shelves.

The board has already rejected the policy— twice. However, the board’s chair, who authored the policy, added it to the agenda again this month in an effort to bring forth another vote.

Due to the absence of several members on Tuesday, the board did not have a quorum, meaning there weren’t enough members present to vote on the policy. Nevertheless, a long line of people from the community provided public comment, speaking either in favor or in opposition to the policy.

The debate inevitably sparked anger among both speakers and onlookers. But honestly, it mostly just made me sad.

It was clear that many people speaking in favor of the policy had a misunderstanding of it. Speakers continually characterized the policy as pertaining to sexually explicit material, when in fact, the library board already has a policy designed to prevent children from accessing sexually explicit materials. It was adopted in 2024, and is called the “Policy for Protecting Children from Harmful, Sexually Explicit Material in the library.”

The policy in question at this meeting was actually about “transgender and gender confusing materials.” That term is vaguely defined, and could be interpreted as referring to anything from The Little Mermaid to Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. 

Additionally, the policy was not about removing these books from the children’s section. It was about removing them from the library’s collection entirely— eliminating access for people of all ages.

Furthermore, there seemed to be a misconception that recent Executive Orders had negated the threat of legal action that could stem from this policy. However, Executive Orders are not laws, and the precedent set by multiple Supreme Court rulings means there is still a very real chance of a lawsuit if the policy were to pass.

Overall, it made me sad to listen to people argue with so much conviction about things that weren’t even accurate. It was a stark reminder of the erosion of our shared reality, and the power of misinformation.

But the most upsetting part about all of this is that we didn’t get here by accident. Grown adults debating gender ideology at a library board meeting on a Tuesday afternoon? That did not happen organically— it was manufactured. 

There has been so much discourse around “gender ideology” in the media and in politics recently. I encourage you to ask yourself why. Why is there a concerted effort to stoke outrage around this topic, the latest in a long line of political buzzwords like “critical race theory?” Who is all of this outrage really benefitting?

Is it local communities like ours? Or is it the TV networks and social media companies who know that you tune in, log on, and engage more when you’re angry? 

Is it our children? Or is it the politicians who think they can win your vote if they give you something to fear? 

Is it our public libraries? Or is it the political and corporate interests that want to erode faith in public institutions, like libraries, in an effort to privatize public goods for their own profit? 

If you think that last one is a stretch, consider that the chair of the Sumner County Library Board recently went on TV and said that instead of getting certain books from their public library, people can buy them from Amazon— a private corporation. Statements like these, despite being driven by genuine beliefs, play right into the hands of private interest.

To those that support this policy, I know you think you’re doing the right thing. But I encourage you to think about who might be manipulating your convictions, and using them to line their own pockets. 

Because the reality is, arguing about gender ideology at library board meetings isn’t benefitting any of us. It’s turned our libraries into places of controversy instead of community. It’s damaging the library’s image, eroding trust with the public, and marginalizing real people in our county— people whose value and character have been reduced to the subject of public debate. That’s demeaning, dehumanizing, and deeply unfair.

At the end of the day, the library board controversy plays into the hands of those who do not have our community’s best interests at heart. It’s pitting neighbor against neighbor, and we’re all the worse for it.

So if the next library board meeting doesn’t have a quorum, you can count me out. The library board has already issued a decision on this policy— twice. I respect that decision, as well as the members who refuse to be bullied or worn down into changing their vote.

Plus, there are other urgent issues facing our county that require attention, such as securing funding for the volunteer fire department and ensuring the election commission has enough money to facilitate free and fair elections in 2026.

I would love to attend a library board meeting in the future where we hear ideas about how to get more of the community engaged in library programs, or how to combat the literacy challenges posed by AI. However, I fear that won’t happen until the board becomes less susceptible to political manipulation and more committed to being actual champions for our public libraries.