FRONT ROYAL, Va. — Despite strong opposition, Warren County supervisors approved to create a whole new board to take over operations at a beloved nonprofit public library.
The board approved 4-1 to appoint new members that would handle services at Samuels Public Library including funding effective upon adoption. Cheryl Cullers voted against it.
However, there are still questions about how the new board will work since there’s already an existing Samuels board of trustees.
During the eight-hour long meeting that lasted after 1 a.m., some library supporters are convinced the proposal, first introduced last month, was rushed in an attempt to control the library after efforts to ban books.
“This rushed without discussion,” Warren County businessman Scott Jenkins testified. “The proposed ordinance is flawed.”
“I question the legitimacy of this process which scares me more than any book on any shelf in any library,” said Samuels Public Library treasurer Michelle Leasure.
Those against the plan asked to have supervisors veto it, table it, or even put it up for referendum.
The library has been embroiled in drama since last year after being inundated with requests to get rid of book critics considered too sexually explicit, including books with LGBTQ+ themes.
Last year, supervisors initially withheld most of the library’s yearly budget to address the book concerns. The library hasn’t removed any books but implemented new policies including having a parent sign-off on certain books.
Supervisors eventually settled a budget with the library, but last month, Supervisors Richard Jamieson and Vicky Cook proposed having the new board with a report claiming Samuels has “governing issues.”
“The report that presented was biased and contained a lot of information that was omitted and it misrepresented facts,” Samuels Library Board of Trustees President Melody Hotek told WUSA9.
Critics who agree with the supervisors say since the library is largely publicly funded, the county needs better representation.
“If taxpayers provide the majority of funding for the library, whether it's 83% or 69%, it makes sense for them to have more representation than the current one board member,” James Fox of Warren County said in the meeting.
The Samuels Library board still questions what the next steps might look like since it’s unclear exactly when the new board will be appointed and who is being considered.
Samuels Public Library director Erin Rooney said if there’s too much government overreach, it could affect the library’s status as a nonprofit.
“A board such as this wouldn't have the governing authority over our current library board and that's where the questioning keeps going into place,” Rooney said. “They brought up policy and governance. What does that mean and look like? That's not being answered.”
WUSA9 has reached out to board members for comment and more clarity about the next steps but haven’t heard back.