Antagonist  Public Meeting

With the ever-continuing conflict between Samuels Public Library, the Warren County Board of Supervisors, and a newly appointed board to monitor spending and oversee operations, I decided to attend the meeting on February 26^th, 2025.

Public notice advertised a meeting between the appointed Warren County Library Board and the Samuels Public Library Board of Trustees.

As the meeting was called to order, it was found that no Samuels Public Library Board of Trustees members were in attendance. Should the meeting have gone ahead, or should it have been canceled? The meeting began with no instructions or conditions presented to the citizens in attendance. However, it was quickly noted that public speaking was prohibited, interruptions would not be tolerated, and violators would be requested to leave.

Are the board’s rules enforceable or a violation of constitutional rights? This is not an elected board, so what allows for this violation of one’s rights? What empowers this authority? Was this event considered a meeting? A meeting is when a quorum of two or more people or groups come together to discuss one or more topics in a formal or business setting.

I have never attended a county government meeting where the presiding individual was overly zealous, provocative, and inflammatory, toward an organization. I am thankful no Library Board of Trustees members were in attendance. The county library board was not there for discussion, but a fight. It was very distressing. The entire meeting was nothing more than an outrageous attempt at discrediting Samuels Public library. A library that  Warren County Citizens have trusted and valued as a part of the community for over a century. The library’s commitment to all social classes in Warren County is beyond reproach.

How was an individual with such contempt for the library selected to serve on the board? I believe an appointee should be unbiased with no conflict of interest. That is certainly not the case here. However, in a court of law, every individual is afforded due process. Jury selection requires that those selected be unbiased without an opinion and able to make intelligent decisions based on the facts.

Members of the appointed Library Board in 2023 had issues with certain reading material they considered offensive and requested it be removed. The library, adhering to the First Amendment rights of all individuals, refused the request. The Warren County Board of Supervisors then withheld funding from the library in an attempt to intimidate and force the removal of certain reading material.

Is the appointed Library Board’s objective to question the operations and spending of county tax dollars provided to the library? Or perhaps there is a hidden agenda to remove personnel within the library so that they can be replaced with someone willing to fulfil previous requests to remove certain literature.

Why are the 1st Amendment rights of all Warren County citizens attacked and scrutinized by overly zealous religious individuals?

John Jenkins
Warren County, VA

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the letters published on this page are solely those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the Royal Examiner’s editorial team, its affiliates, or advertisers. The Royal Examiner does not endorse or take responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or validity of any statements made by the authors. The Royal Examiner has not independently verified the statements and claims presented in the letters. Readers are encouraged to exercise their own judgment and critical thinking skills when evaluating the content. Any reliance on the information in the letters is at the reader’s own risk.

While the Royal Examiner makes every effort to publish diverse opinions, it does not guarantee the publication of all received letters. The Royal Examiner reserves the right to edit letters for clarity, length, and adherence to editorial guidelines. Moreover, the Royal Examiner does not assume any liability for any loss or damage incurred by readers due to the content of the letters or any subsequent actions based on these opinions.

In submitting a letter to the editor, authors grant the newspaper the right to publish, edit, reproduce, or distribute the content in print, online, or in any other form.

We value the engagement of our readers and encourage open and constructive discussions on various topics. However, the Royal Examiner retains the right to reject any letter that contains offensive language, personal attacks, or violates any legal regulations. Thank you for being a part of our vibrant community of readers and contributors, and we look forward to receiving your diverse perspectives on matters of interest and importance.