Public libraries are for everyone.
They’re not home libraries. They’re not church libraries. They’re not private school libraries. Public libraries are funded by tax dollars and, as such, must be places where all patrons are recognized and valued. All ages. All colors. All nationalities. All religions. All income levels. All ability levels. All political persuasions. All sexual orientations.
Whether you’re straight and cisgender or part of the LGBTQ community, you’re welcome at the public library. And you have the right to expect the library collection to include materials that reflect your interests and experiences. Professional librarians, including those right here in Putnam County, know this. Members of the boards of directors of public libraries, including the board right here in Putnam County, know this.
But our board and our library staff are under attack anyway.
When a handful of “concerned citizens” go hunting for materials that offend them, they often home in on LGBTQ fiction and nonfiction. And it’s not just young adult novels they’re gunning for. They go after children’s books, too. “I Am Jazz.” “Pride Puppy.” Also (and still) “And Tango Makes Three,” an oldie–copyright 2005–but goody about a pair of gay penguins who hatch and raise a chick.
The book police aren’t doing this in secret. In fact, many of them are proud of their efforts. As one local official right here in Cookeville bragged, “Book burning is my game.”
The pastor of a large local church sent a text message, soon widely circulated, to Putnam County commissioners in advance of their monthly meeting on June 29. On the agenda was the appointment of two new members to fill upcoming vacancies on the Library Board. Several months ago, the commission asked the board to create a detailed policy for choosing and recommending new members. The board did that and, from a pool of several candidates who had expressed interest, selected the two whom they believed best qualified. At the county commission meeting last Monday, commissioners rejected—by a vote of 21-3–one of the board’s recommendations, an individual who would have provided much need representation for Monterey, and selected a different candidate.
In his communication with commission members, the aforementioned pastor claimed that library staff, with the consent of the board, were providing explicit LGBTQ materials to children. He wrote that members of his congregation, other conservative churches in this county and “conservative voters who elected you” expected commissioners to take a bold stand on the issue. He said that “a loud minority of left-wing activists” want children to have these materials. The pastor also claimed that “this same minority hates our county mayor, sheriff, city council, local churches, the county commission and the Republican Party.” He concluded by writing “I expect you will take steps to keep children safe from grotesque materials in the library.”
Wow. That’s a whole lot of nonsense to unpack.
Perhaps he and others don’t know that children under the age of 13 aren’t even allowed in the library without adult supervision. Perhaps they don’t know that parents can opt for a “restricted” library card for their children that controls which books they can check out. Perhaps they don’t understand that nobody at the library is forcing children (or anyone else) to check out or even look at any materials that might offend them. Or that none of the books in the children’s library are grotesque.
They’re just not.
The good news? If you’re upset about this overreach, there’s something you can do. First, object loudly and often about any individuals or groups trying to control what materials are in the library without following policy. Next—and you should do this soon–find out where candidates for local office stand on the issue of library censorship. Vote accordingly in the upcoming election.
Our library’s diverse collection and your freedom to read freely just might depend upon it.
(July 4, 2026)