Samuels Has a Plan—The County Just Has a Statement

In their June 12, 2025 statement, the Majority Supervisors stated many things I found interesting, and I appreciated their attempt at humor when they suggested Samuels would perhaps send the library assets to Afghanistan.   We could all use a good laugh in these tense times.  What I found most interesting is that these supervisors expect to be signing a new provider contract in 30-60 days, not WILL be signing.    I may not be as smart as the Supervisors, but I do understand the mathematical concepts of less than and greater than, as well as two-digit addition and subtraction.  For example, I know that June 30 occurs eighteen days after June 12.   And I know that 30 is greater than 18.    So, the Majority Supervisors have admitted that, even now, they have no provision whatsoever for library services as of July 1, and they have not given us a date for when we can expect county library services under their “plan.”

I could not help but notice that the statement from the Majority Supervisors did not ask two questions I still have, maybe because I am not smart.   How long after the thirty days or the sixty days will it take the new provider to get up and running?    How much money will it take to rename the library?   We have all seen the amount of money a neighboring county has spent renaming the schools.    Will the renaming take money that could be going into our schools, our sheriff’s department, and our emergency services?

Melody Hotek and the Samuels Board of Trustees have been unwavering in their determination to stay open to the community’s residents on July 1 and beyond.  The July program schedule on the Samuels’ website is full.   They are still checking out books and other materials.  The databases are still up and running.  Their plans are evident and public.

In the statement from the Majority Supervisors, it says, “Who does SLI really care about?  A smart person may conclude that SLI cares about SLI, not Warren County citizens.”   I have to say that the conclusion would not based on the facts in evidence.   Samuels plans to continue providing this county with a library on July 1, despite the fact that they will no longer be funded by the county.    The Majority Supervisors have no sense of urgency about providing a library for the county.    We all can see who cares about Warren County citizens, and it is not the Majority Supervisors.

In conclusion, I want to thank the Samuels Board of Trustees for their commitment to continue providing us with library services and their generous benefactors who have enabled them to do so.  I am especially grateful to every single member of the Samuels staff and every single volunteer.  Each time throughout this two-year ordeal that I have interacted with any of you in person, you have displayed a high level of professionalism and have been the epitome of grace under pressure.    Thank you.

Chris Worthington
Front Royal, VA

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