Several public libraries in Tennessee, including those in **Smyrna** and **Murfreesboro**, are undergoing temporary closures aimed at removing books related to transgender issues from their collections. This action follows a directive from local officials and aligns with a broader initiative prompted by a state-level directive in response to former President **Donald Trump**’s executive order concerning “gender ideology extremism.”
The **Smyrna Public Library** has been closed for most of the week due to an “EMERGENCY CLOSURE NOTICE.” According to the posted announcement, the library will remain shut from **November 10, 2025**, to **November 15, 2025**, and is set to reopen on **November 17, 2025**, to facilitate an inventory review in line with new reporting requirements established by the **Tennessee Secretary of State’s Office**. The library system in **Murfreesboro** is scheduled to follow suit, closing next week to perform similar inventory assessments.
These closures are a direct response to a letter issued by **Tre Hargett**, the Tennessee Secretary of State, which emphasized that libraries receiving state and federal funding must ensure compliance with applicable laws regarding the appropriateness of the materials they offer. Hargett stated, “Library decisions should be shaped by the values of the library’s community,” underscoring the responsibility of libraries to adhere to state mandates.
The directive also highlights the need for libraries to align their collections with **age-appropriateness** laws, as well as the executive orders from Trump. Hargett expressed concern that the actions of a single library could adversely affect over **200 other libraries** throughout the state.
Opposition to these efforts has emerged from various advocacy groups, including the **Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression**. In a recent letter, the foundation argued that restrictions on gender-related materials infringe upon the **First Amendment**, limiting both self-expression and access to information.
Ken Paulson, Director of the **Free Speech Center** at **Middle Tennessee State University** and a former editor-in-chief of **USA Today**, criticized the closures, describing them as “the most aggressive assault on the public library system that I have ever seen.” He emphasized that this action is unjustified by Trump’s executive order or Tennessee’s previous legislative actions.
Paulson further stated, “There is a concerted effort to hide ideas from young people. That is a violation of the First Amendment, and those who are promoting this overreach should be embarrassed. This is as un-American as it gets.”
As the situation develops, the implications of these closures on access to information and community values in Tennessee libraries will continue to unfold, drawing attention from both supporters and detractors of the state’s new directives. The impact on the communities served by these libraries remains a significant concern as they navigate these changes.
