Good evening members,

It's been a long and difficult legislative session. We are thankful it's finally over! But, we still have work to do. 

Today, the TN Legislature passed the Conference Committee Report which stemmed from HB 2666/ SB 2247. Here is TASL's statement:

The Tennessee legislature stripped the decision making authority of local school boards and their ability to determine what is best for students in their districts when it comes to books and placed this power in the hands of twelve political appointees. The Conference Committee Report removes local control, gives one person the power to have a book removed from every school in Tennessee, and undermines Governor Lee's Age Appropriate Materials Act, which was designed to maintain local control over book selection and reconsideration. We ask Governor Lee to veto this legislation and affirm local control for Tennessee’s schools. Deciding and implementing school library policies that impact students should reside with school board members, administrators, professional school librarians, and stakeholders of the local community. 

CALL TO ACTION:

Email and call Governor Lee's office to ask that he veto the Conference Committee Report. Share this information with colleagues, friends, family, etc. who wish to lend support.

**We've provided a draft you can use. Personalize by sharing that you are a school librarian, a retired school librarian, library supporter, etc. Add in your thoughts about having a book removed statewide. Use a specific example, such as MAUS. The whole world reacted when it was removed from McMinn County. Imagine this happening statewide. 

Phone: (615) 741-2001

Twitter: @GovBillLee

Email: https://www.tn.gov/governor/contact-us.html (** This only allows 500 characters. The text below is 484 characters. Feel free to alter as needed.)

Dear Governor Lee:

I ask you to VETO the Conference Committee Report. Deciding and implementing school library policies that impact students should reside with school board members, administrators, professional school librarians, and stakeholders of the local community. It undermines your Age Appropriate Materials Act by removing local control and gives one person the power to have a book removed from every school in Tennessee. Please affirm local control for Tennessee's schools. 

Thank you for continuing to raise your voices and spread the word! You are making a difference!

Katie Capshaw

2022 TASL President

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