CONTROVERSY AT THE STACKS: LIBRARY OVERSIGHT DEBATE INTENSIFIES IN PUTNAM COUNTY - County Commission Meeting to discuss tonight 5:30PM

November 17, 2025

by Clarissa Reaves-Williams

Citizens, Officials Question Content, Governance, and Transparency at Local Libraries

A growing divide between citizens and the Putnam County Library Board came to a head this fall as concerns over age-appropriate content, governance structure, and financial oversight surged into the public spotlight. What began as isolated parental concern evolved into a multi-meeting public movement—including involvement from both city and county officials, and eventually, the Tennessee Secretary of State.

BACKGROUND: CONTENT CHALLENGES SPARK A MOVEMENT

Concerns first surfaced in June 2025, when parents and concerned citizens contacted elected officials about books containing graphic content located in the Young Adult and Children’s sections of the Putnam County Library system. Cookeville Vice Mayor Luke Eldridge, a father, youth pastor, and psychology graduate, was among those who took action.

After verifying that the books were indeed available in the library system, Eldridge submitted formal reconsideration forms for 18 titles, accompanied by 50+ pages of supporting documentation as opposed to what was reported elsewhere.

“I actually went to the library website and verified the books were on the Putnam County Library website, showing they had a copy at our locations,” Eldridge said. “Just so everyone knows, I’m not randomly throwing books out there. These books were in our library at the time of being challenged.”

Eldridge noted that in one case, a book he verified as available had already been pulled by Library Director Dr. Kathryn Wisinger for review, but he still submitted the form following the official process.

Commissioner Vinnie Faccinato also filed reconsideration forms and echoed the concern.

A PACKED HOUSE: CITIZEN TURNOUT AND TESTIMONY

Library board meetings in September, October, and November drew full crowds, with citizens, elected officials, and press attending. Each meeting featured extended public comment periods. The Board of Trustees listened respectfully to both supporters and critics of the current library material placement.

At the October 14 meeting, Highlands Insider publisher Clarissa Reaves-Williams read a letter from Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett into the record. The letter had been dated September 8, 2025, and addressed the responsibility of public libraries to ensure age-appropriate access to materials funded through taxpayer dollars.

A second letter from Secretary Hargett, dated October 27, 2025, was referenced during the November 11 meeting but was not read aloud. According to Dr. Wisinger and board members, this second letter was received by library directors statewide.

THE FUNDING QUESTION: WHO'S LIABLE?

Cookeville City Councilman Ali Bagci voiced concern during the public comment portion of the November meeting:

“Based on what I heard at tonight’s meeting, it appears the library does not seem particularly concerned about passing an audit regarding the appropriateness of its materials.

My concern is this: If city tax dollars are being used to support the library, and the library were found to have used funds in violation of state or federal law, could the Comptroller of the Treasury issue an audit finding that implicates the City of Cookeville, since its funds were part of the expenditures in question?

If that were the case, the city might be required to suspend disbursements or increase its oversight of local library funding.”

He continued, “As the son of two educators, I have always been a strong advocate for our library and recognize it as a valuable community resource. I would hate to see it placed in financial hardship—especially if such a situation could be avoided.”

GOVERNANCE UNDER REVIEW: TERMS, CONFLICTS & TRANSPARENCY

Separately from content concerns, questions were raised about library board governance.

At the November 14 District 2 Commissioners’ meeting, a public packet was distributed documenting lapses in formal reappointments, expired terms, and inconsistent appointment procedures. One letter from Cookeville resident Jack Gill (included in the packet) detailed several discrepancies.

The document titled “District 2 Commissioners Meeting Re: Library Board Membership” urged greater transparency and a review of board policies.

LIBRARY BOARD CHAIR & DIRECTOR RESPOND

After the November meeting, Board Chair Harry Ingle spoke with Highlands Insider in a one-on-one interview:

“I trust that the template that'll be provided [by the state] will be helpful in guiding the process to provide all the information for the audit. I would anticipate that, and they're already doing inventory, so I think it's actually a good time.”

Two days later, Highlands Insider Publisher Clarissa Reaves-Williams met privately with Dr. Kathryn Wisinger, the library director, for a three-hour recorded conversation. Wisinger acknowledged her strengths and limits, saying she is a “rule follower” and had not been previously trained for public-facing controversy.

“We are here for the community,” she said. “If there is a book that has been brought to my attention or anyone’s attention, we’re going to respond to that. We do not ever want to put sexually explicit material in children’s hands—ever. We would not do that.”

When asked whether she considered the current debate a book ban attempt, Wisinger replied:

“I would say if you ban a book, you're preventing access to that book. That's what I would call a book ban.”

Asked whether anyone had attempted to ban a book during her time as director, she replied:

“Since I’ve been there, we haven’t. We’ve had challenges through the Request for Reconsideration form, but not that they have tried to ban this book.”

TIMELINE AND NEXT STEPS

A detailed timeline from January through November 2025—including meeting minutes, livestreamed board sessions, publication links, and library documents—has been compiled and will be available in a follow up story. [See timeline PDF or timeline page.]

The audit mentioned in Hargett’s letters is due January 19, 2026. Questions remain about how the board will report its findings, whether further changes will be made to reconsideration policies, and what steps the city and county will take next.

Eldridge, Faccinato and Bagci have both expressed interest in continuing to follow up. Eldridge confirmed he will submit a new reconsideration form regarding the book Assassination Classroom, which he said is now available in the library system and raises concerns about violence and school safety.

“We are not asking to ban books,” Eldridge said. “We are asking for them to be placed appropriately and for the board to follow its own policies.”

Timeline of Events

August 2025:
Vice Mayor Luke Eldridge begins raising concerns about sexually explicit and age-inappropriate materials in the library's youth sections. He compiles a list of 50+ books, citing passages he says violate community standards and Tennessee Code.

September 11, 2025:
Eldridge speaks at the Putnam County Library Board meeting, livestreamed by Highlands Insider. He presents a 50-page document of flagged book content and urges the board to re-evaluate placement policies.

October 9, 2025:
Board reconvenes. Clarissa Williams, publisher of Highlands Insider, reads aloud a letter from Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett, raising concerns about state audits related to book content in taxpayer-funded libraries.

October 25, 2025:
Highlands Insider publishes a follow-up article titled "Protecting Children and Preserving Putnam County Library Can Go Hand in Hand” and breaks the story “Eldridge, Faccinato, Citizens Say Library Issue is About Placement, Not Banning Books.”

November 11, 2025:
The most recent board meeting draws another full crowd. Eldridge references a second letter from Secretary Hargett, which reinforces that Tennessee libraries may be subject to audit findings if they violate state code regarding content accessibility to minors.

Public Comments Spotlight

Bobby Quintana, Former Putnam County Bus Driver & Parent

In September, Quintana highlighted growing violence in schools and the danger of normalizing harmful material, noting that one book, Assassination Classroom, promotes themes inappropriate for youth and glorifies violence.

Jennifer Dewar, Local Resident & Advocate

Dewar cited Tennessee Code 39-17-911, which prohibits the distribution of obscene material to minors. She reminded the board that it is not exempt from state law and urged them to follow the statutes or risk exposing the library to legal and audit scrutiny.

"Tennessee Code 10-7-511 requires that no public funds shall be used to purchase materials that are obscene or harmful to minors. This means taxpayer money cannot be spent on books or content that violates this statute. So when we ask if these books are in our library and purchased with public funds, it is entirely fair and appropriate to question compliance with this law."

Secretary of State’s Letters

Letter #1 (Read Aloud at October Meeting):
Secretary Tre Hargett emphasized that libraries are not exempt from Tennessee law and that his office is actively reviewing reports of materials violating content standards for minors.

Letter #2 (Discussed at November Meeting):
The follow-up reiterated the audit implications and encouraged transparency, documentation of board actions, and clear adherence to Tennessee Code.

“The Library Board has a duty to ensure public trust and legal compliance, especially when taxpayer dollars are involved.”
— Excerpt from Secretary Tre Hargett’s letter

Book Reconsideration and Policy Review

Eldridge has filed reconsideration forms on 18 specific books and is flagging the book Assassination Classroom, a manga series he argues promotes violence. Library Director Kathryn Wisinger has stated that the library follows ALA guidelines, but many parents and officials have asked for local values to be prioritized.

WHAT TENNESSEE LAW SAYS ABOUT PUBLIC FUNDS & OBSCENE MATERIAL

Tennessee Code Annotated 10-7-511 provides clear guidance:

“No public funds shall be expended by any governmental entity for the purchase of materials deemed obscene or harmful to minors.”

What Does This Mean for Public Libraries?

Obscene or Harmful Material Defined:
Materials that depict or describe sexual conduct in a patently offensive way, lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors, and violate community standards may fall under this definition.

Public Funds at Risk:
Libraries using taxpayer dollars must ensure materials they purchase do not violate this statute, or they could face audit findings, legal consequences, or funding risks.

Fair Question:
If a book flagged by parents or officials is proven to contain harmful or obscene content, it is legally appropriate to ask:

Was this book purchased with taxpayer dollars?

Does its content comply with TCA 10-7-511?

This is Not About Banning Books.
This is about ensuring proper placement and responsible use of public funds, especially in sections accessible by children and teens.

Source: TCA § 10-7-511 – Public Acts of Tennessee

One-on-One with Library Director Dr. Kathryn Wisinger

Interview conducted November 13, 2025

On Thursday, November 13, I sat down with Dr. Kathryn Wisinger, Director of the Putnam County Library, to get her thoughts on the recent concerns, the community’s questions, and to better understand her side of the topic.

Dr. Wisinger openly shared that although she has been in the role a little over four years, her background did not include training for public discourse, and she considers herself a “rule follower.” Our conversation was genuine, heartfelt, and revealed her desire to serve the community while ensuring the library complies with its mission and the state’s audit findings.

During our discussion, I asked her, “If you could share one thing with everyone — as I describe it, your Megaphone Moment — what would you say?” (We both laughed at the phrase being slightly out of place for a librarian.) She replied:

“What I was talking about earlier is that the library — I love it. I love the library. I was born and raised here. I remember going to that library. I remember Diala’s story. We’ll listen to the same story like 47 times. And the library exists to serve the community. And I feel like within all of this, all of these issues with these books lately, we have been very responsive to the community because that is who we serve, is the community. And I hate that. So much trust, I feel like, has been eroded in the library. We work quietly, maybe too quietly. Again, it’s a library. It’s a library. We’re not super loud. Maybe we need to be more loud about some things. But one of the things that I would say is that we are here for the community. And if there is a book that has been brought to my attention or anyone’s attention, we’re going to respond to that. And we do not ever want to put sexually explicit material in a child’s hands, ever. We would not do that.”

We will publish the full interview with Dr. Wisinger this week. (Full disclosure: there are a few redacted components of the 3-hour interview, including an overview of my background and a section at the end regarding reader behavior studies and newspaper development projects I've worked on since 2001 .)

2025 Library Board of Trustees Meetings & Highlands Insider Reporting Timeline

January 14, 2025 — Library Board of Trustees meeting: The board rated Director Dr. Kathryn Wisenger as "exceeds expectations," citing a strong self-evaluation and PhD completion. A 4% merit raise through June 2025 was approved unanimously.

February 11, 2025 — Library Board meeting: Circulation policy changes were proposed and passed unanimously. Notable changes included increasing the out-of-county fee from $10 to $15 (effective July 1), adding ID match requirements, and removing outdated policies.

May 13, 2025 — Library Board meeting: The board discussed Alicia Upchurch’s term expiring June 30, 2025. Dr. Wisenger was tasked with confirming her continued interest.

June 2025 — Concerned citizens raise questions about sexually explicit books in the library system. Highlands Insider begins independent review and outreach to parents, community members, and elected officials.

July 8, 2025 — Reporter Maryleigh Bucher attends the board meeting and delivers her résumé to Dr. Wisenger for board seat consideration.

July 2025 — A Putnam County Commissioner and three citizens call Highlands Insider to discuss library content concerns (sources withheld for privacy).

July 29, 2025 — Citizens deliver a flagged books packet to city and county officials. A commissioner says they may raise the issue publicly.

August 18, 2025 — Vice Mayor Luke Eldridge meets with Highlands Insider and confirms he submitted reconsideration forms for 52 books. Eldridge emphasizes that the goal is not to ban books but to relocate them out of youth sections.

Late August 2025 — City Councilman Ali Bagci says he was unaware of flagged titles but agrees explicit content should be placed in adult sections.

September 8, 2025 (afternoon) — Dr. Wisenger confirms receipt of Eldridge’s forms and tells Highlands Insider that some flagged books remain in circulation pending review. She notes that “must go” on forms can be interpreted in various ways.

September 8, 2025 (evening) — Dr. Wisenger follows up via email: books with sexually explicit content will be moved to adult sections. Some have already been relocated; others are still checked out. She emphasizes that no explicit titles remain in the children’s section.

September 8, 2025 — Tennessee Secretary of State Tre Hargett issues his first letter to library directors across Tennessee reminding them of obligations under state code (see photos section).

September 9, 2025 — Library Board of Trustees meets. Public comments highlight concerns about inappropriate book placement. Highlands Insider livestreams the meeting.

September 9, 2025 — Highlands Insider publishes: “Eldridge, Faccinato, Citizens Say Library Debate Is About Placement, Not Banning Books”

October 14, 2025 — Library Board meets again. During public comments, Clarissa Reaves-Williams reads Secretary Hargett’s first letter into the record.

October 27, 2025 — Secretary Tre Hargett issues a second letter to library directors across Tennessee, further addressing financial accountability and content review responsibilities.

November 2025 — Follow-up letter is acknowledged but not read publicly. The conversation around library compliance, transparency, and use of taxpayer funds intensifies.

November 11, 2025 — Library Board meets. Public comment period includes presentation of the second Hargett letter, handed to the board by Director Wisenger. Concerned citizens and officials voice frustration with library responses.

News by the Numbers: Library Controversy

3 – Months of full-capacity board meetings

18 – Books formally challenged

50+ – Pages of flagged content compiled by Eldridge

3+ – Board members serving with expired terms

2 – Letters from the TN Secretary of State

1 – Public library system with increasing scrutiny

and ... Increased Library Usage

Watch the Livestreams

Highlands Insider livestreamed the September, October, and November board meetings - see them on YouTube.

Watch the Livestream tonight beginning at 5:30 on the Highlands Insider Facebook page - join in the comments.