New Library Board Elects Officers, Sets First Priorities

The recently created Warren County Library Board had its initial meeting on Wednesday, January 29, at 6 p.m. at the Warren County Government Center (WCGC). What we counted as 11 members of the public, all appearing to be Samuels Library supporters, attended the meeting. The meeting came the day following Circuit Court Judge Daryl Funk’s rejection of a Samuels Public Library request for immediate implementation of an Injunction seeking a freeze in the County’s movement on creating its self-appointed Library financial oversight board.

Mark Williams from the Royal Examiner captured this first meeting – watch below.

However, rather than controversy, the meeting quickly moved into an agenda dealing with procedural details, including reviewing draft board bylaws, establishing a meeting schedule and permanent meeting site, appointing officers, and moving towards creating Vision and Mission Statements. The board’s next meeting is slated for February 5th, one day after the Board of Supervisors and Samuels Library officials are scheduled to meet.

Jay Butler, chairman of the Warren County Board of Supervisors, opened Wednesday’s meeting but made it clear that this board would operate independently. “This is y’all’s meeting,” Butler said before facilitating the election of officers, after which the board chairman propelled the meeting forward.

Board Leadership Chosen

The board voted unanimously to elect Eric Belk as chairman. Belk, a retired insurance executive and attorney, brings experience in financial oversight and nonprofit governance. “There’s a lot of work ahead of us,” Belk said after taking his seat as chair.

Dean Jaques was elected vice chair. Jaques, a retired federal employee with extensive experience in contract management, said his background in fiscal oversight would be an asset to the board. Near the meeting’s end, Jaques observed that “public accountability is a big deal for me,” adding, “So there is no misunderstanding of what our motives are.”

As has been reported here, there is much skepticism among Samuels Library supporters and officials about the supervisors’ motive in appointing what has been cited as at least three of the five board appointees with some documented ties to the “Clean Up Samuels” book removal effort of 2023.

Following adjournment of the meeting at 6:40 p.m., Chairman Belk stopped to talk with library supporters outside the government center front entrance. See related story for Save Samuels President Samantha Good’s response to our inquiry on her reaction to what she heard, both during and after the meeting.

Veronica Ranieri, a professional librarian with a master’s degree in library science and experience at the Library of Congress, was elected secretary. All three officer nominations were approved by unanimous votes.

Early Priorities and Meeting Schedule

With leadership in place, the board turned its attention to structuring its work. One of the first tasks will be reviewing and adopting bylaws, which will determine how the board operates. Members agreed to take time to read through the draft bylaws before discussing any potential changes at their next meeting.

The board also agreed to meet weekly on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. for the foreseeable future. “In the beginning, we need frequent meetings,” Belk said. “There’s a lot of groundwork to lay.”

Board member Vicky Cook, a representative from the Board of Supervisors, noted that public notice of meetings must be posted at least three days in advance. She said she would work with county staff to ensure proper notifications.

Upcoming Key Dates

A major point of discussion was the upcoming mid-year performance report from Samuels Public Library (SPL), which is scheduled for February 4. The library will present financial and operational updates to the Board of Supervisors as part of its funding agreement with the County.

Additionally, on February 25, SPL will present its proposed budget for the 2026 fiscal year. While library board members will not be able to ask questions during these presentations, they agreed it would be important to attend and review the reports closely.

“These are key milestones for the library and for us as a board,” Belk said. “We need to be engaged and understand the financial picture.”

Transparency and Public Engagement

The board discussed ways to ensure transparency, including the possibility of creating official email accounts for board members and posting meeting materials online. Cook said she would speak with county officials to explore options.

The importance of public engagement was also a recurring theme. Members discussed reviewing past library reports, attending SPL’s Board of Trustees meetings, and ensuring residents have a way to voice their concerns or ask questions.

“We want the community to be involved,” Belk said. “This library belongs to everyone, and we need to make sure we’re listening.”

Next Steps

The board’s next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 5, at 6 p.m. The location is still to be determined. But the county’s Villa Avenue Community Center was suggested as a possible venue for future meetings as a means of avoiding scheduling conflicts with other entities utilizing the government center for meetings.

At its second meeting board members will finalize bylaws, discuss public access to board communications, and prepare for the upcoming SPL budget presentation.

“This is just the beginning,” Chairman Belk said. “We have a lot to do, but I think we’re off to a strong start.”

Watch the Library Board Meeting of January 29, 2025, in this exclusive Royal Examiner video by Mark Williams.