Story perspectives

Tennessee Library Review Leads to 3,000 Book Removals

1/26/2026

Summary

Story summary

Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett ordered a review of library collections, prompting removal of nearly 3,000 books in Rutherford County.
The review, to be finished within 60 days, aimed to ensure state-standard compliance and flagged slavery, the Holocaust, and LGBTQ titles.
Library officials described the reviews as voluntary, while the ACLU of Tennessee criticized them.
A county library board meeting on February 2 will decide fate of removed books.

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Story summary

Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett ordered a review of library collections, prompting removal of nearly 3,000 books in Rutherford County.
The review, to be finished within 60 days, aimed to ensure state-standard compliance and flagged slavery, the Holocaust, and LGBTQ titles.
Library officials described the reviews as voluntary, while the ACLU of Tennessee criticized them.
A county library board meeting on February 2 will decide fate of removed books.