Opinion
Samuels Library Inc.’s Secret Meeting
As Chairman of the Warren County Library Board, I take my responsibility to the citizens of this county very seriously. Transparency and accountability are not optional; they are fundamental to maintaining public trust. Unfortunately, the actions of the Samuels Library, Inc. (SLI) Board of Trustees suggest that they do not share this commitment.
In a secret meeting held on December 17, 2024, the SLI Board of Trustees made an extraordinary decision—one that fundamentally alters this vendor’s relationship with the county. Without public notice or oversight, they secretly amended the organization’s Articles of Incorporation to strip Warren County of its rightful claim to library assets in the event of SLI’s dissolution. Instead of ensuring that these resources remain dedicated to the citizens of Warren County for library purposes, SLI’s Board of Trustees granted itself the power to distribute those assets to any 501(c)(3) organization, anywhere in the country, for any charitable or educational purpose.
Who can they not give it to? The citizens of Warren County.
This was done without public discussion, without transparency, and without justification.
Let’s be clear: Samuels Library, Inc. is not “the library”. It is a vendor—a private nonprofit that the county entrusted to operate the public library on behalf of Warren County residents. That trust has been broken. The SLI Board of Trustees has deliberately and unilaterally rewritten the terms of its agreement with the people of this county, prioritizing its own interests over those of the community it claims to serve.
The facts speak for themselves.
- The SLI Board of Trustees violated its commitment to transparency.
The meeting where this critical decision was made was never publicly announced on the SLI website. No agenda was posted. No public comments were solicited. This secret meeting violated Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act and the Library Funding Agreement, which explicitly states that all Board meetings must be open to the public.
- The dissolution clause change was not made in good faith.
Before December 17, 2024, SLI’s Articles of Incorporation made it clear that if the organization ever ceased to operate, all library assets would revert to Warren County, exclusively for library purposes. This was a reasonable and fair safeguard, ensuring that taxpayer-funded resources remained in service to the community. No sane purchaser of such services would have agreed otherwise. But now, SLI has rewritten the rules so that it can send those assets anywhere—effectively robbing Warren County of the very resources that make a public library possible.
- This is an existential threat to the future of the library.
Some have expressed concern that our efforts to demand accountability from SLI puts the future of the library at risk. In reality, SLI itself is jeopardizing the library’s future. A nonprofit entrusted with public funds and resources cannot be allowed to operate in secrecy, evade oversight, and rewrite its obligations without consequence. If anyone is threatening the library’s existence, it is the SLI Board of Trustees, not the Library Board or the Board of Supervisors.
- SLI has refused to appear to respond to our questions.
We have repeatedly invited SLI Board President Melody Hotek to appear before the Library Board to answer legitimate questions. I have offered to adjust meeting times, accommodate scheduling conflicts, and even accept other representatives in her place. Each request has been ignored or refused. SLI has chosen secrecy over accountability at every turn. Board of Trustees members attend our meetings to observe, so this is not a scheduling issue.
This is not how a public institution should be run. Warren County taxpayers have invested over $26 million into Samuels Library, Inc. over the years. They have a right to demand transparency, honesty, and adherence to the agreements that were made in good faith.
The Library Board was created to ensure that Warren County’s library system remains strong, accountable, and transparent. That mission has never been more urgent. SLI’s leadership has made a grave error in judgment—one that it must reverse immediately. If it does not, I see no viable path forward for a continued relationship with this organization.
Despite these troubling actions, I believe in second chances. If SLI’s Board of Trustees recognizes its mistake and takes steps to rebuild trust—starting with an immediate reversal of the dissolution clause change—then we can have a conversation about how to move forward together. If not, it will be up to the Board of Supervisors to decide what is in the best interests of Warren County residents.
The citizens of Warren County deserve a free, public library that serves them—not a nonprofit board that serves itself. It is time to restore integrity, transparency, and accountability to this institution before it is too late.
Eric Belk
Chairman, Warren County Library Board
Eric Belk writes on his own behalf as Chairman of the Warren County Library Board, with concurrence from Mr. Jaques (Vice Chairman), Ms. Ranieri, and Mr. Gresham. Ms. Cook is traveling and has not reviewed this letter.
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