The Rutherford County Library System (RCLS) Board of Directors will vote on the removal of all its standing committees and consider new policy amendments to the Library Bill of Rights, the ALA Code of Ethics, the Freedom to Read Statement, and the Freedom to View Statement at its October 20 meeting. The Board also launched a new Online File Repository and will welcome a newly appointed Board member from Eagleville.
Bylaws and Policy Amendments
The RCLS Board is slated to vote on a proposed amendment to its Bylaws on October 20. The proposal, introduced at the September 15 meeting, would eliminate all seven of the Board’s standing committees. Those are the Budget and Finance, Bylaws and Policies, Development and Acquisitions, Facilities Maintenance, Nominating, Personnel, and Strategic Planning Committees. The line-edited draft proposal is included as a PDF below.
The Board will also consider amendments to ten different library policies as part of its New Business. These include the following:
Amendment to HR 2007 – Holidays Approved
Amendment to PM 102 – Chapter Organization
Amendment to PM 103 – Library Bill of Rights
Amendment to PM 104 – ALA Code of Ethics
Amendment to PM 105 – Freedom to Read Statement
Amendment to PM 106 – Freedom to View Statement
Amendment to PM 107 – ALA Guidelines for Development of Policies and Procedures
Amendment to PM 108 – Technology Training and Assistance
Amendment to PM 203 – Internet Use
Amendment to PM 307 – Use of Facility, Bookmobile
The proposed changes to these policies have not been made public, but the original documents can be viewed in the PDF below.
The Board packet also includes a letter from Tennessee’s Secretary of State Tre Hargett addressing the library system’s obligation to comply with President Trump’s executive orders on “gender ideology” and Tennessee’s Public Chapter 458 - “Dismantling DEI Departments” in order to remain eligible for grant funding.
Online File Repository & Board Packets
The RCLS Board has begun offering public access to its agenda packets in advance of its meetings via a new Online File Repository (https://rclstn.org/rcls-public-documents-repository). The October packet provides the library system’s financial statements, the branch managers’ reports, and the full text of select library policies.
New Board Member from Eagleville
The RCLS Board will welcome a new representative from Eagleville to fill a long-vacant seat. John Pelham Curtis was approved by the Eagleville City Council at its Sept 23 meeting to serve as the city’s representative on the Board. [Read Mr. Curtis’s application in the Eagleville City Council agenda packet, pp. 117-120.] This will bring the eleven-person body to full capacity.
The October meeting of the RCLS Board will take place at 5:00 p.m. in the Rutherford County Courthouse (1 Public Square, Murfreesboro, TN).