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MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS - The Rutherford County Library Alliance (RCLA) is urging residents to attend the Monday, February 2 Rutherford County Library System Board Meeting, calling on the community to “Pack the Room” from 4 to 6 p.m. at Murfreesboro City Hall. The group says recent state directives and local board actions have created confusion about how library decisions are being made and who should guide those decisions.

RCLA Board Chair Tatiana Silvas said Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett’s shifting guidance on book reviews has added uncertainty for libraries statewide. In late 2025, Hargett instructed libraries to conduct a rapid age-appropriate review of children’s and young adult books, a directive widely criticized by citizens, publishers, and advocacy groups who warned it could lead to censorship and significant administrative strain. Silvas said Hargett now appears to be stepping back from the directive, acknowledging that such reviews should not be used to remove books. Still, she expressed concern that leaving decisions solely to local boards—without nationally recognized standards—opens the door to inconsistent or politically influenced outcomes.

To understand the current debate, RCLA points to the long history of the county’s library system. For most of its existence, the system was known as Linebaugh Public Library, named for its original Murfreesboro branch. As additional branches opened in Smyrna, La Vergne, Eagleville, and across Murfreesboro, the system continued to operate under the Linebaugh name, even as it grew far beyond a single library. In 2000, the Linebaugh Library Board and county partners reorganized the system and adopted the name Rutherford County Library System (RCLS) to better reflect its countywide reach and unified structure.

RCLA says that history underscores why professional standards matter. Over the past year, the Rutherford County Library System’s board has faced criticism for temporarily closing libraries for book inventory without a public vote, distancing itself from the American Library Association, and losing four books that had been voted to remain in circulation. Library Director Luanne James also publicly alleged that Board Chair Cody York instructed her to remove books outside established procedures and sought detailed personal information about patrons.

Silvas said the Alliance wants continued American Library Association guidance, reliance on trained library staff, transparent board discussions, and adherence to constitutional protections for access to information. The group encourages residents to bring signs supporting the First Amendment and open access to books during this coming Monday’s (2/2/2026) demonstration.