Samuels Public Library Establishes Emergency Donor Fund Amid County Funding Crisis

In response to the Warren County Board of Supervisors’ decision not to renew its Memorandum of Agreement with Samuels Public Library, the library has launched a Donor Emergency Fund to preserve core services and operations during an increasingly uncertain funding environment.

The move follows a surge of community support, with more than $550,000 in donations contributed in recent weeks. According to library officials, those funds are already being used to stabilize operations as leadership seeks a long-term resolution.

“This fund gives us the ability to keep serving the community in the short term, but it’s not a permanent fix,” said Melody Hotek, President of the Samuels Public Library Board of Trustees. “Continued support is crucial to keep Samuels public, local, and open to all. We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has shown up for Samuels in this moment.”

The library’s new Donor Emergency Fund is designed to provide both security and flexibility, ensuring donated money is protected and accessible for critical needs. According to the library’s board, the fund is invested in tiered certificates of deposit (CDs) that offer very low risk and generate an expected return of 4%. Funds can be accessed within 24 hours, allowing the library to remain responsive to evolving budget demands.

Should a sustainable funding agreement eventually be reached, any unused balance from the emergency fund will be transferred into the Samuels Library Endowment account. The endowment supports ongoing programming like the library’s popular summer reading initiative and the recently launched Studio 330 — a community resource for digital archiving, media production, and lifelong learning.

The funding crisis began after months of strained negotiations between the county and the library over governance, oversight, and the terms of the operating agreement that guided the library’s use of county funds. With the MOA now expired, Samuels is operating without its primary local funding source, placing pressure on alternative revenue streams, including state aid and private donations.

In the last fiscal year alone, Samuels Public Library held 542 programs — both in-person and virtual — reaching over 19,000 attendees. The library welcomed more than 127,000 visitors and recorded over 400,000 checkouts. More than 2,200 new cardholders signed up during that time, further demonstrating the library’s reach and value in the community.

Now, library staff and volunteers are working to communicate the importance of continued community support.

“We’ve been here for over two centuries,” said Erin Rooney, Library Director. “From children’s storytimes to workforce development, from history archives to digital media labs, we’re proud of what we offer — and we’re going to fight to make sure we keep offering it.”

Community members can contribute directly to the Donor Emergency Fund via the library’s website or by contacting the library’s development office. Donations are tax-deductible, and supporters may choose to give once or set up recurring monthly contributions.

Samuels Public Library was first founded in 1799 and formally chartered in 1952, making it one of the oldest and most established public libraries in Virginia. With a reputation for innovation and accessibility, it remains a cornerstone of civic life in Front Royal and Warren County.

For more information about the Donor Emergency Fund or to make a contribution, visit www.samuelslibrary.net or email development@samuelslibrary.net.