VLA Message to King William, Hanover and Goochland Boards of Supervisors
VLA’s Intellectual Freedom and Executive Committees recently sent a letter to the Boards of Supervisors of King William, Hanover and Goochland Counties in response to an email to the King William Board by a resident.
Below is the email sent by VLA, and at the bottom this page, the original email (February 8) that prompted the response. VLA’s response was emailed on February 16.
Dear King William County Board of Supervisors,
The Virginia Library Association is in receipt of the letter to you from Jessica McLane of Aylett, requesting government overreach in regards to Pamunkey Regional Library.
While Ms. McLane offers Warren County as an example, she has omitted some of the most important facts. Warren County did withhold funding for the Samuels Library in 2023, a situation that changed rapidly in the face of public outcry and expensive negotiations--Samuels spent and continues to spend over $100,000 in responding to this situation--money that could have been better used on behalf of the citizens. Please find here the joint press release from the library and the Warren County Board of Supervisors in which full funding, guaranteed through FY25 is articulated. The only change in library offerings was indeed an additional category of borrowers called “new adults” for community members aged 16 to 21.
Pornography, particularly illegal child pornography, cannot be found in public libraries. Books added to any public library collection undergo rigorous review by publishers, professional reviewers, and library staff before making it to any library shelf. It would seem that those who point to “sexually explicit” materials are referring to health information books that teach older children about their body parts or to books that depict (but do not have a throughline) regarding same sex parents, a family option with which the outraged disagree. According to the US Census, 16% of families report having same sex parents. To avoid their depiction in public libraries is tantamount to taxation without representation.
Further, our state general assembly, both the Senate and the House, demonstrate their on-going confidence in public libraries by funding state aid to libraries at the highest level (78%) since 2001.
In regards to the American Library Association, there are myriad reasons a library joins their professional association. Many of you likely also belong to professional associations, which enhance professional development, networking, hiring and recruitment, resources and support, professional recognition and ongoing, cutting-edge continuing education.
We thank you for your continued support of Pamunkey Regional Library, who serve the citizens of King William well and faithfully. We are here to answer any questions you may have; please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Tom Shepley is a director held in high regard in the professional community and acts faithfully on behalf of King William citizens.
Sincerely,
The Executive and Intellectual Freedom Committees of the Virginia Library Association
PO Box 56312
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Lisa R. Varga, MLS
Executive Director
CC: Board of Supervisors, Hanover County and Board of Supervisors, Goochland County
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Good morning King William Board of Supervisors!
I want to extend to you my sincere congratulations and let you know I’m looking forward to a new start and this Board making positive changes for KW!
I'm sure you are off and running already and have plenty of new business on your plate, but I’m sending this email as a reminder that there are still dozens if not hundreds of sexually explicit and books available without restriction to all children in Pamunkey Regional Library and the Director, along with our King William Board of Trustees Members, still refuse to cooperate with the public in addressing this problem.
As a parent and concerned citizen, I would like to see the PRL issue a high priority for this Board in the new year.
Every community deserves a library that is free from ideology and harmful policies. It should be a place every parent feels safe to take their child and welcomed instead of bombarded with social and sexual messaging. Unfortunately, the Pamunkey Regional Library System feels the need to fly their progressive and LGBTQ agenda in the faces of young children and families.
I’m hopeful this Board can do what the previous Board could not – stand up to Tom Shepley’s threats and financial demands and ensure our money is being spent wisely and in a manner that protects children and families and respects ALL belief systems.
PRL has gone long enough without accountability or scrutiny of its policies, employees, operations, financial systems etc. and the time is now for King William to let them know those days are over.
You will not be alone in this endeavor. There are an increasing number of local Board of Supervisors in Virginia that are taking up the commitment to protect children and save our treasured libraries from political and sexual ideologies which have invaded them.
One of them is the Warren County BOS.
https://www.winchesterstar.com/winchester_star/opequon-district-school-board-candidate-filed-for-library-book-removals-in-front-royal/article_b4b39b42-4c33-5aa3-8a2d-813a6126989d.html
They were brave enough to stand up for the good of children and put forth action items I think would be a great model for us to follow…
- Cut Pamunkey Library Funding, allotting only enough to keep the library operational for one quarter…until Tom Shepley and the Board agree to the following:
- Require completion of a review process of sexually explicit and LGBTQ titles provided by and including community members as well as those that have previously been requested for removal.
- Require PRL create a “New Adult Section” for sexually explicit and LGBTQ titles with an age minimum of 16.
- Create two types of library cards for minors that allow parents to restrict which section to allow their children to check out books from.
- Systemic review and change to collections development policy
- 100% PRL disassociation with American Library Association
We also need to ensure that the King William Library Board of Trustees Members Mary Shipman and John Edwards are promptly replaced with individuals who will stand up for children.
I’m confident that Hanover and Goochland would be on board with all of this as well. A united front would be ideal and the most efficient way to accomplish these goals. But even without it, King William should show that they will stand alone if necessary to protect kids and our community library.
Thank you so much for your service and time and if you have any questions feel free to reach out.
Warm regards,
Jessica McLane
Aylett
Lisa R. Varga, MLS
Executive Director
Virginia Library Association
PO Box 56312
Virginia Beach, VA 23456
757-689-0594 (w)
[email protected]
My working hours may not be your working hours. Please do not feel obligated to reply outside of your normal work schedule.
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