County Library Board Points the Way Toward an END of Samuels Public Library’s Future in Warren County

From information in the agenda packet of the Warren County Board of Supervisors regular meeting of Tuesday, March 4, 2025, it would appear the future of Samuels Public Library may be decided, or at least hinted at, during that meeting. That a decision, or hint at an eventual one, would be coming on recommendations from the controversially appointed  Warren County Library Board (WCLB) may not sit well with Samuels Library supporters. That is due to the reported ties that as many as four of the new county library board’s five members are reported to have to the 2023 “Clean Up Samuels” book removal effort.

Readers will recall that effort focused on LGBTQ-themed books seen by many Samuels supporters as a lifeline to youth reaching puberty with self-generated sexual identity issues. And it may be noted that in reaction to some issues raised, Samuels officials did move some books from younger youth sections to older teen or adult sections of the library.

Samuels Public Library, chartered in 1799 as Virginia’s second oldest certified public library and the Commonwealth’s current Library of the Year, appears to be facing the final phase in the socio-political attack on its existence stemming from the 2023 effort to remove LGBTQ-themed books from its shelves. Royal Examiner File Photos Roger Bianchini

But back to the present, or at least the very near future, Item J topic: “Library Funding Agreement” of the open, regular meeting of the supervisors beginning at 7 p.m., Tuesday, states the following:

“The Warren County Library Board (the “Library Board”) has recommended that the Board of Supervisors exercise its right to non-renew the October 3, 2023 Library Funding Agreement (the “Agreement”) between Warren County and Samuels Library, Incorporated (“Samuels”). The Agreement automatically renews from year to year.”

And while there is follow-up information noting the above action does not preclude the county’s elected officials from eventually deciding to continue its relationship with Samuels under “a new agreement”, it also forwards the option of future public library services being provided by “a new vendor” or being continued on a month-to-month basis if extended with Samuels Library’s 501-C3 non-profit entity.

Screenshot from LinkedIn ‘professional identity’ website of Front Royal-based Eric Belk. And while the self-assessment as philosopher/theologian may be intended humorously, ‘Save Samuels’ Library supporters may not be laughing with the Belk-led WCLB majority’s reported ties to the 2023 book removal effort. Readers may recall some involved in that “Clean Up Samuels” effort with self-identified religious ties.

“In order to enable the Library Board to determine how best to provide library services, either through a new vendor or Samuels under a new agreement, the Agreement will not be renewed in order to prevent the upcoming automatic renewal of the Agreement,” the County staff summary states of what has been forwarded to the supervisors by what is perceived by many Samuels supporters as its wink, wink-appointed library board, adding, “This action does not prevent Samuels from continuing to provide library services to Warren County citizens.”

But for how long and under what conditions remains to be seen. Five potential motions forwarded by the new County Library Board, chaired by Eric Belk, included as attachments to “Item J” suggest which direction the County Library Board and perhaps the supervisor majority who appointed that board, are likely to move in.

Those motions noted in the staff summary as based on “WCLB Motions Passed 2-26-25” are:

“Motion 1, Breach of Contract:

“I move that the Warren County Library Board find that Samuels Library, Inc. is in breach of the Library Funding Agreement, Section VI, subsection 3, which provides: “All Library Board meetings shall be open to the public as required by the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq. of the 1950 Code of Virginia, as amended) and as outlined in the Library’s Bylaws.“ due to Samuels Library, Inc.’s holding a meeting in secret, without prior notice to the public, and that it took improper action in secret in direct violation of Virginia’s Open Meeting laws.”

It might be noted that Samuels Library officials have disputed the contention they held an unannounced Board of Trustees meeting as alleged in Motion 1. As reported in the Royal Examiner article on the WCLB February 26 meeting, “Records show that the meeting was announced on December 13, satisfying the legal requirement for prior notice.”

“Motion 2, Recommendation to Non-Renew the Library Funding Agreement:

“I move that the Warren County Library Board recommend to the Warren County Board of Supervisors that it exercises its right to non-renew the October 3, 2023, Library Funding Agreement between Warren County and Samuels Library, Inc., as set forth in Section III, entitled Term.

“Motion 3, Recommendation for a Month-to-Month Agreement:

“I move that the Warren County Library Board recommend to the Warren County Board of Supervisors that, if in the opinion of the Board of Supervisors it is beneficial to the citizens of Warren County, it consider entering into a month-to-month contract with Samuels Library, Inc., to continue to receive County funds to operate Samuels Public Library, pending either 1) the completion of a competitive bid process; 2) receipt and acceptance of competing bids to operate the library; or 3) that due consideration be given to operating the library as a part of the county’s government structure.

“Motion 4, Condition for Samuels Library Inc.’s Eligibility to Compete for the Bid:

“I move that the Warren County Library Board recommend that Samuels Library, Inc., shall have the right to compete for the bid to operate Samuels Public Library, provided that they reverse the improper and unlawful decision to alter their Articles of Incorporation which improperly and inappropriately changed the nature of the agreement between Warren County and Samuels Library, Inc. by changing the dissolution clause to prevent the library assets from being returned to Warren County upon dissolution of Samuels Library, Inc., as has been the case for nearly 50 years.”

Regarding this asset distribution allegation, also as reported in the Royal Examiner article on the February 26 County Library Board  meeting, it was reported that: “Also to be noted, funds received from Warren County do not purchase assets for Samuels Library.” Rather, it appears that donor fundraising amounts go to the acquisition of library assets. Thus, financially, it would seem the county would have no claim to library assets that are not funded by county tax revenue.

“Motion 5, Open Call for Competitive Bids:

“I move that the Warren County Library Board recommend that the Warren County Board of Supervisors publicly announce that it is accepting competitive bids, which may be in the form of a Request for Proposal or a broad request for bids at large, from external vendors to operate Samuels Public Library.”

And with all these options, several contested statements as to factuality, and what many library supporters believe to be an agenda of revenge by the supervisors’ majority and their library board appointees regarding the 2023 “Clean Up Samuels library book removal efforts, we’ll see who shows up Tuesday evening and what they have to say.