Library director fired for refusing to relocate controversial books out of the children’s section

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WSMV/Gray News) — A library director in Tennessee was fired for refusing to relocate certain books from the children’s section that were deemed controversial.

Luanne James, the Rutherford County Library System director, was fired during a board meeting Monday.

Library Director Image

The board said James refused to comply with its decision to relocate 132 children’s books containing controversial material to the adult section.

The decision to move the books was made after the board chair criticized some of them for promoting “gender confusion” and for content involving LGBTQ+ themes and characters.

James wrote a letter to the board, saying she is ethically bound to uphold the First Amendment. She wrote that if she agreed to relocate the books, she would violate that right for all county citizens and her.

“Public libraries serve as vital repositories of diverse ideas, both popular and unpopular,” James said in the letter. “Restricting access to these materials through subjective relocation or removal constitutes a violation of the community’s right to information and a direct infringement on the principles of free speech. Our libraries are funded by and for the citizens; therefore, the right to access information — free from government interference — is a protected hallmark of our democracy.”

The board, however, saw James’ actions as insubordination.

“The Board has the authority and responsibility to establish policy for the library system,” Board Chair Cody York said. “When a director refuses to carry out a duly adopted Board decision, it undermines the governance of the institution and cannot be ignored.”

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