Accountability is Coming: Tennessee Public Libraries Ordered to Undergo Age Appropriateness Book Review
Nov 18, 2025 by FACT
Tennessee will launch an “immediate age-appropriateness review” of library books intended for minors in several counties following a state government directive. The review aims to identify and eliminate any form of radical gender ideology present in books for children and teens. Several libraries have already announced temporary closures to facilitate the review.
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett sent a letter on October 31 to the Stones River Regional Library system, which includes libraries in the following counties: Bedford, Cannon, Coffee, Franklin, Grundy, Marion, Moore, Rutherford, Trousdale, Warren, and Wilson.
Hargett’s letter advised the libraries to “undertake an immediate age-appropriateness review (over the next 60 days) of all materials in your juvenile children's section.” The purpose of the review is to “identify any materials that may be inconsistent with Tennessee age-appropriateness laws, in violation of any federal law, including President Trump's Executive Order, or otherwise contrary to any other applicable state or federal laws.”
Following the 60-day review period, the library directors will be required to provide a final report to Hargett’s office as well as the Tennessee state librarian and archivist by January 19. Libraries could lose state and federal funding based on the results of the reports.
Hargett’s letter detailed the background and reasons for the review:
It’s past time for Tennessee libraries to be audited and held accountable for any violations of state and federal law. We’re thankful Secretary Hargett is leading the charge to protect children from radical gender ideology, which has no place in taxpayer-funded institutions like public libraries.
One library employee shared with local media that “at least hundreds” of books throughout the library system could be removed from the shelves during the review.
While librarians publicly decry how “anti-public-library” the review is, we’re more concerned by their admission that hundreds of books contain LGBT ideology, graphic sexual content, language, and worse. Their reluctance to comply with the review showcases the need for it.
“Library decisions should be shaped by the values of the library's community as well as the fiscal limitations that require tough decisions about how to spend finite dollars over an almost infinite number of books,” a previous letter from Hargett reads.
Parents should have peace of mind that when their kids walk around the children’s section of the library, they won’t be exposed to gender ideology, sexuality, language, or graphic violence. This review is not “anti-public-library,” it’s a common-sense pro-family policy that will help ensure parents see Tennessee as a safe state in which to raise their children.
Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett sent a letter on October 31 to the Stones River Regional Library system, which includes libraries in the following counties: Bedford, Cannon, Coffee, Franklin, Grundy, Marion, Moore, Rutherford, Trousdale, Warren, and Wilson.
Hargett’s letter advised the libraries to “undertake an immediate age-appropriateness review (over the next 60 days) of all materials in your juvenile children's section.” The purpose of the review is to “identify any materials that may be inconsistent with Tennessee age-appropriateness laws, in violation of any federal law, including President Trump's Executive Order, or otherwise contrary to any other applicable state or federal laws.”
Following the 60-day review period, the library directors will be required to provide a final report to Hargett’s office as well as the Tennessee state librarian and archivist by January 19. Libraries could lose state and federal funding based on the results of the reports.
Hargett’s letter detailed the background and reasons for the review:
For example, on January 20, 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order entitled
"Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government." This Executive Order prevents federal funds (which are often present in grants from the Tennessee State Library & Archives) from being used to promote gender ideology, which the Executive Order defines as:
"Gender ideology" replaces the biological category of sex with an ever-shifting concept of self-assessed gender identity, permitting the false claim that males can identify as and thus become women and vice versa, and requiring all institutions of society to regard this false claim as true. Gender ideology includes the idea that there is a vast spectrum of genders that are disconnected from one's sex. Gender ideology is internally inconsistent, in that it diminishes sex as an identifiable or useful category but nevertheless maintains that it is possible for a person to be born in the wrong sexed body.
New laws also emerge at the state level. For example, Public Chapter 458, known as the Dismantling DEI Departments Act, was passed earlier this year. It prevents governmental entities from using discriminatory preferences to promote diversity, equity, or inclusion.
Libraries receiving grant funds must comply with laws or regulations, whether they have been in place for years or have recently become effective. If you have questions about compliance with grant contracts or federal or state law, I encourage you to contact your county attorney.
"Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government." This Executive Order prevents federal funds (which are often present in grants from the Tennessee State Library & Archives) from being used to promote gender ideology, which the Executive Order defines as:
"Gender ideology" replaces the biological category of sex with an ever-shifting concept of self-assessed gender identity, permitting the false claim that males can identify as and thus become women and vice versa, and requiring all institutions of society to regard this false claim as true. Gender ideology includes the idea that there is a vast spectrum of genders that are disconnected from one's sex. Gender ideology is internally inconsistent, in that it diminishes sex as an identifiable or useful category but nevertheless maintains that it is possible for a person to be born in the wrong sexed body.
New laws also emerge at the state level. For example, Public Chapter 458, known as the Dismantling DEI Departments Act, was passed earlier this year. It prevents governmental entities from using discriminatory preferences to promote diversity, equity, or inclusion.
Libraries receiving grant funds must comply with laws or regulations, whether they have been in place for years or have recently become effective. If you have questions about compliance with grant contracts or federal or state law, I encourage you to contact your county attorney.
It’s past time for Tennessee libraries to be audited and held accountable for any violations of state and federal law. We’re thankful Secretary Hargett is leading the charge to protect children from radical gender ideology, which has no place in taxpayer-funded institutions like public libraries.
One library employee shared with local media that “at least hundreds” of books throughout the library system could be removed from the shelves during the review.
While librarians publicly decry how “anti-public-library” the review is, we’re more concerned by their admission that hundreds of books contain LGBT ideology, graphic sexual content, language, and worse. Their reluctance to comply with the review showcases the need for it.
“Library decisions should be shaped by the values of the library's community as well as the fiscal limitations that require tough decisions about how to spend finite dollars over an almost infinite number of books,” a previous letter from Hargett reads.
Parents should have peace of mind that when their kids walk around the children’s section of the library, they won’t be exposed to gender ideology, sexuality, language, or graphic violence. This review is not “anti-public-library,” it’s a common-sense pro-family policy that will help ensure parents see Tennessee as a safe state in which to raise their children.
