by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

“Library boards and school boards are pulling books and hoping nobody makes a stink about it,” said Christina Soontornvat, children’s book author and Coordinator for the Tennessee chapter of Authors Against Book Bans. “We need to engage with them and tell them why we think they should not do this.” At the Feb. 10 Spoken Word gathering, Soontornvat talked about how a book ban directive to the public schools had extended its reach to include all public libraries in the state.

A year and a half ago, Tennessee amended The Age Appropriate Materials Act. “Public schools cannot have books in their libraries that have in whole or in part nudity, sexual excitement, excess violence and sadomasochism,” Soontornvat said citing the law. “There are so many problems with the language ‘ in whole or in part.’ A book about art history with a picture of a nude statue by Michelangelo could get pulled off the shelves, which is exactly what’s been happening. And what qualifies as excess violence? ‘ The Illiad’ could be excess violence. ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ you wouldn’t be able to read that in school anymore. Some teachers have gotten rid of their whole classroom libraries. Teachers and librarians are afraid and confused.”

Franklin County Schools removed 58 books from their libraries. “It’s been bad enough for school libraries,” Soontornvat insisted, “but this past fall Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett sent out a letter to all the public libraries. A very threatening letter intimidating them, saying ‘you need to make sure your libraries are age appropriate.’”

Now public libraries are pulling books as well. Rutherford County has scheduled a meeting for next month to decide whether to comply.

In addition to demanding public libraries “undertake an immediate age-appropriateness review,” Hargett’s letter also stipulates public libraries must comply with President Trump’s Executive Order “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” arguing Trump’s order prohibits use of federal funds “to promote gender ideology.”

Soontornvat called the bluff on the threat. “An executive order is not a law,” she insisted. “It doesn’t apply to state libraries and county and city public libraries.”

“The freedom to think and read is so important,” she stressed. For those who want to learn more, Soontornvat recommended the film The Librarians, a documentary recounting how librarians are stewards of the freedom to read. She also suggested visiting the Authors Against Book Bans website to sign up for updates and calls to action.

Tennessee ranks number three in the nation for censorship of the written word, outpaced only by Florida and Texas.