Warren County Library User Asks: What Happens After July 1?

The Samuels Public Library has over 16,000 cardholders. I am one of them. I am in the dark and concerned about what will happen on July 1, 2025, a date just six weeks away.

I use the library regularly. I borrow physical books and ebooks, use several databases, donate books, participate in the reading challenges, and attend programs. Where exactly will I be doing all these things on July 1, and with what entity?

As many of us know, on July 1, the Warren County Board of Supervisors will have ended funding for the Samuels Public Library and presumably begun paying Library Systems & Services to run a public library for the county. I understand that; I just do not understand exactly how that is going to work.

The county’s position seems to be that it owns the assets found at Samuels, including books. The county is the owner of the building in which Samuels is housed, but Samuels has years left on the lease. Samuels has stated that they plan to continue offering services to the community. Will the Board of Supervisors allow that to happen? If so, great! If not, then what?

I have spent some time on the website of Library Systems and Services and a nearby library they run, the Manassas Park City Library. I may be wrong, but my impression is that LS&S takes over the running of existing libraries. They do not seem to establish libraries.

Again, on July 1, just six weeks away, will the County attempt to seize the building and the assets Samuels has used and hand them over to LS&S? Will they give LS&S additional money to buy books, hire staff, and access to another building? Does LS&S have time to get a public library ready to open on July 1, 2025?

I have another concern after looking at the website for the Manassas Park City Library. It seems to offer fewer programs than all of us have been accustomed to at Samuels. Their book collection also seems to lean toward more recently published books than the wide range of tomes we can borrow from Samuels. I looked at books for all age levels, multiple genres, popular authors, and a good number of non-fiction subjects and found fewer books across the board. Who exactly is responsible for making sure any new library for Warren County is up to the standard set by Samuels?

I am just one cardholder. I am not affiliated with any political party, PAC, or group. But, I want to know the plan, and I want to encourage other cardholders to start asking questions about what happens on July 1 for you and your family.

Chris Worthington
Front Royal, VA

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