09-04-2025
‘It's pretty black and white': Nonprofit fighting back against change in Sumner County Library Board policy
GALLATIN, Tenn. (WKRN) — A nonprofit organization is warning of potential legal action against Sumner County's library board.
The Sumner County Library Board has been a contentious topic among locals for some time. The board, which people volunteer to serve on, was reduced in size in March by the county commission because elected officials could not agree on who should fill the vacancies.
Now, the board is looking to enact a previously-approved policy change that would give them the power to approve donation funds, and what to spend those funds on for each county library.
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One of the donors, a charitable nonprofit and separate entity known as 'The Friends of Public Libraries' in Sumner County, believe this is overreach.
'Our frustration lies in that, in the proposal of this policy, [it] shows the lack of qualifications by this board to properly, legally, and effectively govern our libraries,' explained Michele Harbin with Portland's Friends of Public Libraries.
'Anything out of the scope of those basic needs of the library– salaries, building maintenance, and circulated items– 'The Friends' make up the difference through fundraising,' Harbin continued.
For further context, 'The Friends' organization gives back to all Sumner County public libraries. Typically, they donate money for things like upgrades (i.e. a teen room), holiday celebrations, or community events like bingo.
'It's a pretty black and white issue, because they [the board] can't touch that money, unless they would like to each join the separate 'Friends of the Libraries,'' said Harbin.
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To highlight their frustration, The Friends of Portland Library sent a 'legal letter' to the Chair of the library board this week, ahead of Wednesday's library board meeting.
The letter reads that the new policy 'infringes on the rights' of their organization and should be amended or 'deleted' to reflect the true powers and duties of the library board.
While acknowledging that recent state law has forced local libraries to adapt how they operate, Harbin said the county's library board appears to have an alternative agenda.
'They do not have the experience or the knowledge about libraries. One guy that got appointed to the library board did not even have a library card!' Harbin detailed. 'The current library board chair, and some of the candidates that they have pushed forward, they just want to make sure they are conservative, Christian candidates.'
Harber said a form used to be available on the county website that interested candidates could fill out for consideration on the board.
'That form has since disappeared,' Harber said.
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Worth noting: these policy changes were already approved by the library board last year.
During Wednesday afternoon's meeting, the implementation process will be discussed and voted on, along with other items, including the handling of 'challenged' books and materials in county libraries.
News 2 reached out to the Library Board's Chair, Joanna Daniels, for a comment but did not hear back at the time of this publication.
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