A timeline of recent events affecting the Rutherford County Library System
This timeline will be updated as developments occur.
June 15, 2023 – Murfreesboro City Council passes Murfreesboro City Ordinance 23-O-22 amending the Murfreesboro City Code, Chapter 21 Offenses and Miscellaneous Provisions, Article I, Section 22, regarding community decency standards. The new decency standards make the distribution of “indecent materials” on city property illegal and subject to criminal and civil penalties. [Text of ordinance from Murfreesboro City]. The decency standards officially become part of the City code fifteen days after the vote.
July 17, 2023 – The Rutherford County Library System (RCLS) Board asks RCLS Library Director, Rita Shacklett, to begin reporting all patron-initiated “requests for reconsideration” to the Board as these challenges are received.
August 28, 2023 – The RCLS Board votes to withdraw four (of six) challenged books from the library collection citing the new Murfreesboro Community Decency Standards and Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-17-911. The Board takes the following actions:
Accepts the library staff’s recommendation to keep two of the challenged books: An ABC of Equality by C.G. Ewing and Gender Queer by M. Kobabe. Gender Queer is relocated to the adult collection to restrict access.
Accepts the library staff’s recommendation to remove two books (Let’s Talk About It by E. Moen and This Book is Gay by J. Dawson) from the collection.
Rejects the library staff’s recommendation to keep the two remaining books (Flamer by Mike Curato and Queerfully and Wonderfully Made by Leigh Finke) and removes them from the collection.
The Board votes to initiate three new patron profile categories that restrict access to borrowing from specific library collections by age: juvenile (12 years old and younger), young adult (17 and younger), and adult.
September 18, 2023 – The RCLS Board considers two patron-initiated “requests for reconsideration” regarding books in the libraries’ collections. The Board supports the library staff’s recommendation to make no changes to Queen Charlotte by J. Quinn and S. Rhimes and approves the library staff’s recommendation to move the juvenile book Sex is a Funny Word by C. Silverberg and F. Smith to the adult non-fiction collection.
October 16, 2023 – The RCLS Board rejects the library staff’s request to make the new age-restricted borrowing profiles be an opt-in program. By default, all new and existing library accounts will be subject to age-based restrictions, but parents may give minors permission for increased access to library borrowing. Permission must be given in writing.
November 6, 2023 – Rutherford County Steering, Legislative, and Governmental Committee questions RCLS Library Director Rita Shacklett, RCLS Board Chair Steve Sullivan, and RCLS Board member Cody York regarding the decency ordinance and state law. The Steering Committee gives the RCLS Board 60 days to present a plan for compliance.
December 4, 2023 – RCLS Board announces Director Rita Shacklett’s notice of retirement—effective February 29, 2024.
Ms. Shacklett announces that age-restricted borrowing will go into effect on December 18.
The Board will hold a special called meeting to discuss the plan it must present to the Steering Committee. Mr. Sullivan stresses that county funding for libraries is contingent on their acceptance of the plan.
December 18, 2023 – RCLS Board meets to discuss the Action Plan and the RCLS Director of Libraries search. The Board approves the plan pending recommended revisions, but no document is made public.
December 21, 2023 - Murfreesboro City Council votes to unanimously to approve 23-O-48 which would repeal City Code Chapter 21, Article I, Section 21-22 “Community Decency Standards.” Shawn Wright and Jami Averwater are not present and therefor do not vote. The ordinance will get a second reading on January 11, 2023.
January 11, 2024 - Murfreesboro City Council held a second and final reading of 23-O-48 and unanimously voted to repeal City Code Chapter 21, Article I, Section 21-22 “Community Decency Standards.”
February 5, 2024 - The RCLS Board considers three patron-initiated book challenges. Board member Phil King was absent; Board members Shawn Wright and Dina Piazza were present but chose to abstain from the book challenge votes.
The Antiracist Kid by Tiffany Jewell (J 305.8) - Votes to accept staff recommendation to leave it in the Juvenile Nonfiction section.
It’s Perfectly Normal by Robbie H. Harris and Michael Emberley (YA 613.907) - Votes to accept staff recommendation to move to Adult Nonfiction section, thus restricting access to anyone under 18 years of age.
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison (Adult Fiction) - Takes no action because it is an adult book.
Upcoming events
March 4, 2024 - RCLS is expected to give a report on its action plan for compliance with decency standards to the Rutherford County Steering Committee. The meeting will be held at the Rutherford County Courthouse, 2nd Floor, Commission Chamber, 5:30 p.m.
March 18, 2024 - The monthly RCLS Board meeting will be held at the Rutherford County Courthouse, 2nd Floor, Commission Chamber, 5:00 p.m.