The Sumner County Library Board voted to delay any final action on a list of juvenile titles flagged in a Secretary of State memo and to gather for a February work study to review the books with library directors.

The board's decision follows public comment from residents raising concerns about transgender-themed books and a county legal and policy review. Paul (speaker 3), who made the three-part motion, summarized the board action: defer discussion to the February meeting, make that meeting a work study with directors at the table, and authorize directors to mark the Secretary of State report as "board is in deliberation" so the state deadline is met. Chair called the question and the motion passed (voice vote with some members later recorded as abstaining).

Public speakers framed the debate in different terms. Randy Hill urged the board to "protect children" and argued that young people lack capacity for long-term decisions, and Joanna Daniels told the board she believes "Secretary of State Trey Hargett's letter was inconsistent with the executive order that he quoted in his letter". Jack Elston, speaking in defense of keeping materials available, told the board that "removing materials because of disagreement with ideas is, in fact, viewpoint discrimination," and proposed creating a neutral parental resource area as an alternative.

Library directors and regional staff said they had conducted a collection review and that most flagged titles remain in active circulation; Gabby (library director) told the board she identified five children's titles that appear on national lists and said those are being actively checked out. Regional staff advised the board that the Secretary of State provided a template for reporting and that libraries may request an extension or explain that the board is deliberating.

The board agreed the February work study will let members inspect titles in hand, hear directors' perspectives and begin drafting policy options intended to balance parental involvement, access and legal obligations. The chair and counsel emphasized that any policy change would need to avoid viewpoint-based removal to reduce the risk of legal challenge.

The work study is intended to produce a recommended approach and any formal actions would follow the board's normal agenda and voting procedures.