JEFFERSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) – Jefferson County Schools has removed 32 books from its library shelves after a district review found the titles did not comply with Tennessee’s Age Appropriate Materials Act.
The issue first came before the Jefferson County Board of Education earlier this month when School Board Commissioner Michelle Jinnette raised concerns about the books and asked district leaders to evaluate whether they met state requirements.
The board directed Director of Schools Tommy Arnold to review all 32 titles. According to Arnold, that review has now been completed and the books have been removed from school libraries throughout the district.
District Cites State Law
Arnold said the majority of the books were taken off library shelves because of provisions in Tennessee’s Age Appropriate Materials Act, which prohibits school library materials containing certain depictions of sexual conduct or sexual excitement.
He acknowledged the challenge school librarians face in reviewing large collections for compliance.
“With 25,000 books and two librarians that are in there, it’s not possible for them to know every word and every thing and every book,” Arnold said.
School Board Commissioner Doug Ibbetson said the district has an obligation to follow state law.
“If we have books in our library that violate state law, they got to go out,” Ibbetson said.
Officials Say Removal Is Not a Ban
Arnold emphasized that the action should not be viewed as banning books but rather ensuring library collections comply with current legal standards.
“With this new law, these books would not have been purchased, so they never would’ve been on our shelves,” Arnold said. “It’s not that we are banning a book. We are just going and looking at books that are within the law to be on our shelves.”
Jinnette said she was concerned by some of the content she reviewed.
“I was taken aback about how sexually explicit some of the material was,” she said.
Most Books Came From High School Libraries
According to district officials, most of the removed books were housed at Jefferson County High School, while some were also located at Patriot Academy, the district’s freshman campus.
District leaders noted that six of the books removed in Jefferson County are also unavailable in Knox County school libraries.
Arnold said he has not received complaints from parents regarding the removals.
“I’ve not heard anything from parents at this time. Of course, kids have so many options nowadays,” Arnold said.
School Board to Receive Report
Arnold is expected to present the findings of the review to the school board next week. He indicated he will report that all 32 books have been reviewed and removed from district libraries and does not anticipate extensive discussion on the matter.
The move places Jefferson County among a growing number of Tennessee school districts reviewing library collections to ensure compliance with state requirements governing age-appropriate educational materials.
