Return Upon Receipt

The opposition to the library is upset about Samuels Library amending its Articles of Incorporation to protect its assets.  Which, for the record, they are 100% allowed to do.  I wish that Belk would have taken a page from the professional book of Melody Hotek.  Hotek admitted that the Supervisors were within their rights to create the board.   Belk should admit that the library was within their rights to make this change.  I know he’s aware of this statement from Hotek because he absolutely loves to quote it.  Instead he started a narrative that SPL held a secret meeting, and they’ll send this money outside the county without ANY proof.  Speculation does not equal fact.

In response, certain members of the library’s oppositional ‘force’ are calling for Samuels to return the taxpayer’s money.  Seeing as how most of the money from the county went to staff salaries and utilities, the library is going to need the community’s help.

Every single person who asks the staff a question, you’ll need to return those answers.  Everyone that a staff member handed a COVID-19 testing kit, those will need to be given back.  Anyone who held meetings in the building or used them as a warming/cooling center, you’ll need to return those utilities; but don’t worry, we won’t charge interest or late fees for at least 30 days.

We understand that parents who took their kids to Ms. Patty’s toddler story time will probably have a hard time getting to return all of those dance moves and socialization, so we’ll let you return them into the book drop for your convenience.  All the tech help provided, assistance with copy/faxing, and any free notary services that patron’s redeemed those services are needed back ASAP.  All so SPL can return that effort back to the staff and they can return their paychecks.  I am sure their mortgage companies and utility providers will understand that people are just really upset that the library took sound financial steps.

This is going to be labeled sarcastic or hyperbole, but actually, I am just trying to be outlandish to show the absurdity.  Your tax dollars paid for staff salaries and some (not all) of the operations.  If they were to return what you paid for, that’s what you’d be asking for back.  Obviously, that is an impossible ask.

Now for a Sydney hot take – the anger over this matter is akin to a private equity firm who gets upset because they acquired an asset they can’t pillage.  To me, it seems like the plan was to just push out Samuels (through a public smear campaign and talk of fiscal responsibility) then take over their assets.

Finally, they get to control what is in the library.  I want to remind everyone that there were book challenges on content other than LGBTQ+.  Some people didn’t like IVF, basic sex education, magic, or anything anti-catholic (their words, not mine).  And, of course, anything with talk of trans/gay subjects (like a book called Pride Colors, which is a board book about colors).  They didn’t, however, challenge any heterosexual books, anything violent, or talking vegetables (how is that, not magic?).

Again, I will hear,’ This isn’t about the books. Will you freaking let it go already?’ Okay, you are right—it isn’t about books—it’s about control. All along, it’s been about controlling what is in the library and what taxpayers have access to, and when that didn’t work, it became about controlling the narrative so that the beloved, award-winning, 200-year-old library is suddenly the villain.

As someone who loves a good villain I assure you Samuels Public Library and its staff are far from villains, they are superheroes.

Sydney Patton
Virginia’s Community Colleges Alumni
Shenandoah District
Warren County, VA

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