An Open Letter to the BOS – Fully Fund Samuels Library

Dear Board of Supervisors,

I write to ask that you fully fund Samuels Library for a variety of reasons:

1. Respect the internal library process that is already ongoing to determine appropriateness of books.
2. Respect the mission statement of the library to bring people, information, and ideas together to enrich lives and build community.
3. Respect the 99% of 473 library users who gave the library high marks during the Community Survey of 2021 www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPruRSANPlg
4. Respect the 13 pages of laudatory comments submitted by these 473 library users in the Community Survey www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPruRSANPlg
5. Respect the 53 persons who submitted forms to the library objecting to several books … BUT
6. Respect the fact that those 53 persons represent about 1/10 of one percent (0.1325) of the 40,000 people who live in Warren County.

I truly believe that Samuels Library is a jewel nestled in the heart of this community.  Everybody, far and wide, talks about it. To hurt it in any way may undermine your pledge to serve the common good.

Respectfully yours,

Jeanne Trabulsi
Front Royal, Virginia