Tennessee librarian fired for refusing to move more than 100 books from children’s to adult section

A library system in Tennessee has dismissed its director after she refused to carry out a board decision to move more than 100 books dealing with LGBTQ topics out of children’s sections and into adult areas.

The Rutherford County Library Board voted 8–3 Monday night to terminate library system director Luanne James. The action followed her refusal to implement the board’s earlier decision requiring the relocation of the books, which board members said promoted ideas they believe could cause “gender confusion” among young readers.

James argued that moving the titles would violate First Amendment protections and conflict with her professional responsibility as a librarian. She maintained that complying with the directive would amount to government-mandated viewpoint discrimination against certain subjects and perspectives.

The dispute has placed Rutherford County, located southeast of Nashville, into the center of the ongoing nationwide debate about what materials should be available to children in public libraries. Across the United States, similar conflicts have focused on books addressing race, sexuality, and LGBTQ topics.

Advocates for free expression say the firing reflects growing pressure on libraries over their collections. Kasey Meehan, director of the Freedom to Read program at PEN America, said the situation could become a symbol in the broader fight over censorship and access to information.

Comparable controversies have occurred elsewhere. In Wyoming, former library director Terri Lesley reached a $700,000 settlement last fall after she was removed from her position amid disputes about books containing sexual content and LGBTQ themes. Officials in Campbell County said at the time that her dismissal was related to job performance rather than the book dispute.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court declined in December to hear an appeal involving a Texas case about free speech and book removals, leaving in place a ruling that allows local officials to remove certain materials from public libraries if they are considered objectionable.

The conflict in Rutherford County began with a March 16 vote by the library board ordering the relocation of more than 100 titles to adult sections. During that meeting, board chairman Cody York argued that telling children that boys can become girls or girls can become boys is both inaccurate and potentially harmful, especially for youth going through puberty.

Two days after the vote, James notified the board by email that she would not follow the directive. When the board met again Monday to address the issue, the meeting drew a large crowd, with attendees reacting loudly throughout the proceedings.

When given the opportunity to speak, James reaffirmed her position, stating she would not reverse her decision. After the board voted to remove her, her attorney read a prepared statement in which she described the termination as unlawful viewpoint discrimination.

In the statement, James said librarians should not be forced to serve political agendas and that her actions were intended to defend the public’s right to access books.

Some local officials supported the board’s action. Rutherford County school board member Caleb Tidwell spoke in favor of moving the titles out of youth sections. Opening his remarks with a prayer, he urged the board to follow the law and prioritize protecting children.

The debate over library collections in Tennessee has intensified over the past year. In 2025, the state Secretary of State’s office sent letters to library systems requesting immediate reviews of materials located in children’s sections. The letters stated that libraries receiving state and federal funding must comply with applicable laws and referenced an executive order from President Trump concerning gender ideology.

James became director of the Rutherford County library system in July 2025. She has more than 25 years of experience in public libraries, including previous leadership roles in Texas and South Carolina.