Bans Off my Library
What this is about
In May 2023 the Samuels Public Library came under attack by a group of people that believed LGBTQ+ materials don't belong in a library. The community stood up in support of the library (against censorship), and it was fully funded through 2025. However, this illustrated a need for a long term advocacy for Samuels. Also through the process we learned that Samuels wasn't an isolated case. Thus the idea of Bans Off My Library was born; simply put it's to share information and encourage citizen participation in the local library arena.
Library Maintenance Issue
On October 9th (2024) the Samuels Library Board held an emergency meeting to address an issue with building maintenance. Turns out that the county had instructed Public Works they are no longer allowed to provided services to the library. Something they've been doing for over 10 years. The library found this out when director Erin Rooney called to inquire about getting the leaking roof repaired. She nor any member of the board were informed about the discontinuation of services. In other words, the county made this choice and willfully neglected to inform the library of their choice. Their justification is that from here on out, they will only follow the terms of the lease.
If you would like to read an article about the issues including quotes from people involved click here for the Northern Virginia Daily article by Laura Ruby, or the video of the emergency meeting can be found here.
What We As Citizens Can and Need To Do
One can assume that by not properly notifying the library or addressing this publicly in the various meetings with the library, the Warren County Board of Supervisors don't want attention brought to this issue. So naturally that is what we need to do!
First - contact your supervisor!
- Cheryl Cullers - South River - ccullers@warrencountyva.gov
- Jay Butler - Happy Creek - jbutler@warrencountyva.gov
- Vicky Cook - Fork - vcook@warrencountyva.gov
- John Stanmeyer - Shenandoah - jstanmeyer@warrencountyva.gov
- Richard Jamieson - North River - rjamieson@warrencountyva.gov
Next don't stop at local!
Senator Mark Warner - official contact form here
Senator Tim Kaine - official contact form here
US Representative Ben Kline - contact page here
Remember to be respectful, and encourage your friends to email! Need suggestions on what to say? Scroll on down!
More About the Library and the issue
Samuels Public Library Wins Virginia Library of the Year!
Samuels Public Library Wins Virginia Library of the Year!
Samuels Public Library Wins Virginia Library of the Year!
Congrats to Samuels Public Library for winning the Virginia Library of the Year for 2024!!! The staff there earned it! See announcement
Also congrats to Melody Hotek for winning Trustee of the Year - Mel has been an amazing leader through these tough times.
And finally Friends of Samuels Library (FOSL) for winning Friends Group of the Yea
Congrats to Samuels Public Library for winning the Virginia Library of the Year for 2024!!! The staff there earned it! See announcement
Also congrats to Melody Hotek for winning Trustee of the Year - Mel has been an amazing leader through these tough times.
And finally Friends of Samuels Library (FOSL) for winning Friends Group of the Year! FOSL has spent the year dedicated to supporting their library any way they could. Key point - everyone in FOSL is a volunteer!
Melon Grant To Maker Space
Samuels Public Library Wins Virginia Library of the Year!
Samuels Public Library Wins Virginia Library of the Year!
Erin Rooney's (then Adult Ref Supervisor, now Director) Memory Lab project caught the attention of Mellon Foundation and she was invited to apply for a grant. Upon winning the grant, the staff was able to build this amazing, beautiful space that is FREE for public use. But rather than me tell you - here is Erin and local representatives at the ribbon cutting.
Other Ways You Can Help
Samuels Public Library Wins Virginia Library of the Year!
I Don't Know What to Say
It isn't just emailing your representatives that can help the library - there are many simple things that demonstrate community support for this resource. They may not seem like much but trust me, stats matter!
- Sign up for a library card - online application
- Attend a program - adult and youth events
- Donate - online donation or in-person!
- Vo
It isn't just emailing your representatives that can help the library - there are many simple things that demonstrate community support for this resource. They may not seem like much but trust me, stats matter!
- Sign up for a library card - online application
- Attend a program - adult and youth events
- Donate - online donation or in-person!
- Volunteer - Adult Volunteers
- Join Friends of Samuels Library (FOSL) - application - FOSL Website
- Visit - daily visitor count matters, so just walking in shows your support.
- Visit the bookstore - that little box that looks like a house ? That's a book store, money spent there goes back to the library. And the prices are cheap! $2.50 hardback, $1 trade paperback, $1 puzzles, $1 DVDs, $1 coffee and more!!
- Like their social media and interact!
While this isn't about me you can also connect with me, or the Bans Off My Library page for updates. We are working on getting a newsletter together, but this time around I am working on my own (for now at least).
I Don't Know What to Say
Samuels Public Library Wins Virginia Library of the Year!
I Don't Know What to Say
I happen to believe that the best message comes from the heart. If you speak from there, you are saying the right thing. However sometimes we need a few starters so here are a few items you can mention when you email your representatives. **Just please remember to be polite! When you are speaking for Samuels you are representing Samu
I happen to believe that the best message comes from the heart. If you speak from there, you are saying the right thing. However sometimes we need a few starters so here are a few items you can mention when you email your representatives. **Just please remember to be polite! When you are speaking for Samuels you are representing Samuels. I assure you they want this to be a professional, civil process. I know it can be hard, but we can do it for them!**
- Samuels Library won Virginia Library of the year for 2024.
- Samuels won Mellon Foundation grant of $250,000!
- We should be using those two stats as tourist draws, bragging about our award winning library! Come see it... make a Front Royal mug in our award winning maker space!
- Stats every quarter continue to rise (see their Facebook page), so it's clear our community uses the library and it's services.
- Services are FREE and open to everyone. Things like notary, faxing, tutoring, tech support, data bases, photography classes, children's programming, adult programs on local history, career services and more!!
- Many local homeschoolers, backpackers (tourists), low-income families rely on their services. For example during heat waves, it's a cooling station!
- How much libraries mean to you, or when you got your first library card.
- Your thoughts on how your tax dollars are being spent.
- When doing the state reps feel free to mention how the entire story has played out. They may need context, I am going to work on a talking point about this more later. (You can find more info in the mean time under the original FAQ or Archive - The Library in the top menu.
- I am hitting the fact that legal fees are being paid by the tax payers. They've already had closed meetings with legal about the library lease, so yes we've already paid money for this stunt.
What are we missing out on?
Finally, what is the cost of all of this?
During the last battle, the cost to tax payers was debated. And I could sit here and explain how failing to provide these services cause the library to outsource these jobs and therefore increases the pricing. Which is also the point, they want to be able to deny the increase request that the library will have to make and then get to say 'they didn't cut funding, just didn't raise it. That's not the same thing'. When we all know they are trying to insult our intelligence.
No, what I want to talk about is what is all of this preventing the library staff from working on? What are we losing out on as they are being forced to worry about paying the bills?
Before all of this started (the attempted book bannings) the library was working on a project to build an amphitheater. It would have brought music back the library, supported local artists, provided a space for the local theater companies and expanded things like SamiCon.
I have three years left on my term as FOSL Vice President, and I wanted to use that time to bring a Cafe to the library. There is already a kitchen and a cafe style area, it could have been a neat addition to our library.
However all plans like that are on hold. Why? Because who knows if we'll have the money to keep the doors open, let alone build something. But nitpicking and perusing personal agendas the Board of Supervisors aren't saving us money, they are preventing our library from offering more. I could be wrong, but these projects wouldn't have even come from county funding.
What are we losing? Progress.
What are we gaining? A reputation of a town that doesn't like libraries.
Want a Newsletter?
Help us get one!
In order to comply with FTC Anti Spam laws we need a physical address, for safety reasons I'd like to not use my own. So we need one of two things -
- a business willing to let us use yours as our 'base' or
- a sponsor for a P.O.Box
If you'd like information on either of those please reach out to me via email - BansOffMyLibrary@gmail.com
What our newsletter would look like - during active times (like this maintenance issue) weekly to biweekly updates. Another example - sample letters submitted by supporters that they sent to representatives.
During 'down times' - monthly updates which could include information on other libraries.
Both will also have an in the library feature where I will feature something (a program, service, or need) from Samuels.
Possibility of in between updates as needed.
