Wilson County Schools in Tennessee is currently navigating through a new state law that prohibits books and materials with references to sex and violence in public school libraries. The district is working diligently to comply with the legislation, which went into effect on July 1. Despite some media reports suggesting otherwise, Wilson County Schools has clarified that they do not intend to close libraries as they work towards compliance.
According to Wilson County Schools Public Information Officer Bart Barker, the district is committed to fully complying with the new law. Barker stated, „The process to remove materials will happen in a productive and expedited manner. However, closing libraries is not our intent as we navigate through this new legislation.“ This clarification comes amidst criticism from organizations like PEN America, which advocates for the free expression of literature. PEN America’s Freedom to Read Director Kasey Meehan referred to the mandate as „draconian,“ expressing concern that teachers and librarians should be focused on helping students rather than removing books from shelves.
Reports surfaced that Green Hill High School in Wilson County had closed its library to facilitate compliance with the new legislation. However, the district explained that the library closure was temporary and necessary for the distribution of Chromebooks and textbooks to students at the beginning of the school year. Normal library operations are expected to resume once this process is complete, with Barker estimating that it will be finished by the end of the week.
Director of Schools Jeff Luttrell informed board members that the new law will require the removal of certain books from school libraries. This task involves crosschecking thousands of books and materials with media specialists and library staff to ensure compliance with the legislation. Barker emphasized that while the district will comply with the law, they aim to avoid instilling fear in administrators, teachers, and staff during this transition period.
The legislation was generated in response to complaints from parents in the Wilson County School District regarding sexually explicit materials in schools. State Rep. Susan Lynn sponsored the legislation, which amended the Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022. The law now requires public schools to maintain and post a list of materials in their library collections on the school’s website. Each local board of education and public charter school governing body must adopt a policy for the development and review of school library collections.
In neighboring Williamson County, the school board approved a policy in June holding school librarians responsible for materials in their libraries, including compliance with state law. Rutherford County Schools have also addressed the new legislation with a policy that mandates the removal of materials found in violation and periodic reviews of library content.
There have been questions regarding whether the new legislation applies to the Bible. State Rep. Susan Lynn clarified that the law is clear about community standards, stating that the Bible has always been acceptable by Tennessee standards. As school districts across the state work to comply with the new law, the focus remains on ensuring that library collections are appropriate for school-age students.
In conclusion, Wilson County Schools is actively working to comply with the new state law regarding library materials while maintaining the integrity of their library services. The district’s commitment to navigating through this transition period with transparency and efficiency reflects their dedication to providing a safe and educational environment for students.