TN Library Users Sue County
Dickson County threatens to remove children's books from library
Walter Minkel -- School Library Journal, 10/1/2003
Cyndi Culpepper, who homeschools her children, says she initiated the suit because the state has no right to remove essential books needed to educate her children. If she loses the suit, Culpepper says she'll be forced to travel to nearby Davidson County and pay $25 for an out-of-area library card to gain access to the same resources.
Dickson County Public Library Director Greg Miller says although he submitted a $403,000 "bare bones budget" to the county commission, the office decided to violate a state agreement by trimming that budget to $354,000. The Tennessee State Library, which supplies the state's library books, is reluctant to remove the books but will do so if the county refuses to restore the funds, says State Librarian Edwin Gleaves.
The Tennessee Library Association backs the rule that prevents local governments from cutting library budgets too deeply. Five other local library systems have withdrawn requests for an exemption from the rule for fear of sparking similar lawsuits.
