At your library

 

In 2003, the Goochland community came together to move books into the new library

The Goochland Branch Library is part of the Pamunkey Regional Library, a consortium comprised of several counties, which uses economy of scale to make a wider selection of materials available to its citizens than standalone libraries. Members are Goochland, Hanover, and King William counties. King and Queen County will leave PRL as of June 30. Expenses are shared on a per capita basis. Hanover, with 72 percent of the population pays the lion’s share of PRL costs and currently has four Trustees on the Board. If a pending memorandum of understanding is approved, that number could increase to five, leaving Goochland with two trustees.

The Goochland Board of Supervisors put unfounded allegations that the Goochland Library would close, or leave PRL at its Tuesday, June 4 meeting.

A resolution consenting to King and Queen County withdrawing from PRL was unanimously approved. For several years, King and Queen County was in arrears for its monetary contribution to PRL. Its leaders decided to withdraw from PRL and operate its own library to save money. They are within their rights to do so. The withdrawal will not affect Goochland’s financial contribution to PRL.

Reappointment of Barbra Young as one of Goochland’s two representatives on the PRL board met with opposition from people contending that she and other PRL board members want to ban books, quash First Amendment rights, and restrict patron access to material.

During June 4 public comment Barbara Slone, Goochland’s other member of the PRL board, provided background on Young’s service as a library trustee. As PRL is funded with tax dollars, fiscal transparency, efficiency, and accountability is of utmost importance.

When Young was informed by Hanover County, which serves as the fiscal agent for PRL, annual audits for FY 22 and 23 had not been submitted, even though the PRL director indicated that the audits were in process, she formed an audit group. Weekly virtual meetings with the Trustee audit group, library staff, and a CPA firm that the Trustees retained to complete the audits began. The library director has been told that the FY2024 audit will be delivered on time.

Young also began a process to update outdated and poorly formatted policies and bylaws and create a five-year plan, mandated by current by-laws and five years out of date. The goal is to provide financial transparency and accountability to the taxpayers of Goochland, Hanover, and King William counties.

Slone alluded to attacks on the PRL trustees who have “been vilified for proposing that our library system move sexually explicit material out of the children’s section into the adult section. Not a locked room, no book banning, no censorship, no restricted access, but simply placing sexually explicit material in an age-appropriate section. I never thought I would see the day when parents would fight for the right for their nine-year-olds to bring home lurid books from the kids’ section of the library that instructs them with detailed pictures how to pleasure themselves and others sexually.”

Other speakers during public comment contended that PRL trustees interfere with parental rights to determine which materials are appropriate for their children.

District 5 Supervisor Jonathan Lyle thanked Kevin Neilson-Hall, Curtis Brown, Peggy Finck, and Chase Saba for submitting their names for consideration as PRL trustee appointment.

“These past five months I have received more calls, text messages, and emails regarding the PRL system versus any other subject. Clearly, Goochland residents love their libraries. I believe I have responded to every one of these, if I missed one, I apologize.”

“I have consistently noted that the Board of Supervisors is primarily responsible for providing budget support to PRL. We don’t set policy or handle day-to-day operations. This Board approved in April a seven percent increase in PRL funding. Additionally, more than $70k is slated to be invested in improvements to the Goochland Branch Library.

“Beyond money, this Board is entrusted with appointing Goochland’s representatives to the Board of Trustees. This means that while the supervisors do not address policy, personnel, or the PRL’s daily operations—those are the responsibility of the Trustees—our appointing Trustees is a once removed administration of the PRL.

“I reviewed each of the five applications submitted for Trustee and I also had conversations with the applicants who followed up their written applications by calling me.

Barbara Young was the sole applicant who called Lyle. He managed to contact three of the applicants. He asked several questions of each, hoping to learn:

“Is the PRL running a (fiscal) surplus? Does it have reasonable reserves and are the budget requests made to Goochland need or want based”?

“Are staff properly paid; are buildings in good repair and are anticipated future needs including technology, expanded services, and additional branches identified and assigned a cost?

“What financial impact will the departure of PRL members have on its budget. Will Goochland need to address any future decrease in funds caused by departures?

He said that his focus is on seeing efficient operations and addressing the financial health of the PRL.

Lyle then turned to “philosophical” comments he received about the manner in which some materials in the library should be shelved and how parents should be involved in THEIR children’s book selections. “Should there be an “opt in” or “opt out” policy regarding book circulation for children, or no circulation policy for them at all? I think that children’s circulation policy is a VERY appropriate conversation to be had between the Trustees, staff, and patrons of the PRL.”

Lyle said that his reading of the PRL charter indicates that setting how circulation policies are administered is a function of the Trustees. “I believe a robust discussion of circulation policy for children is 100 percent appropriate. I hope that conversation does take place.”

He noted that no Trustee applicant advocated banning or burning books or expressed or advocated unethical or illegal philosophy regarding administration of the PRL system.

Lyle addressed allegations that he held unethical informational meetings with PRL trustees. He consulted with the County Attorney who confirmed that meetings between Trustees, County Staff, supervisors, School Board members, voters, and citizens can take place and follow FOIA and COIA guidelines.

These interactions, said Lyle, are sometimes spontaneous and not always on the county calendar.

“As a supervisor, I want to get information, hear shared perspectives, and receive operational updates from organizations the Board supports, especially if I am going to vote on investing taxpayer money.”

Neil Spoonhower, District 2, had a slightly different take on the matter.

“When I first ran for the Board of Supervisors I remember standing outside Woods’ Store when someone asked me if I was a republican or a democrat. I said, ‘what does it matter in local politics?’ Five years later, there’s a big difference. I was on one of the party’s websites today and the main thing they highlight is the divide that continues to increase. I think that’s unfortunate.

“I struggle mostly with the rhetoric that’s following this conversation, words like “unethical”, and removing First Amendment rights.

“I’ve raised my hand on a Bible three times to defend the Constitution of this United States, went to war for it once. It’s just insulting and so far from the truth, that it’s hard to take seriously. There’s a lot of gaslighting going on. That’s a funny term, defined as misleading someone, especially for one’s own advantage. Wow. When people say that the Trustees are trying to remove books, that they’re trying to ban books, it’s gaslighting. When they’re saying that the First Amendment is being threatened, it’s gaslighting, when they’re saying that there are secret meetings going on because two board members met with someone who’s appointed.

“It’s my obligation, duty, and privilege to appoint people to unelected positions. So, if I’m going to meet with someone to better this county, all the county, not just a few individuals, it is my duty to do this, and I will continue to do this.”

Spoonhower said that he has never heard anything about Young other than her utter regard for what is best for the entire community.

“I know that we are fighting very hard to do the right thing for our community. Our community is loud and clear about what it believes in and wants.”

Board Chair Charlie Vaughters, District 4, thanked everyone who volunteers to serve on boards and commissions. “These are often thankless jobs, and to see the rhetoric being bandied around is unfortunate and can deter others from serving the community.”

Young was unanimously approved for reappointment at PRL trustee.

Our library is a wonderful resource for the entire community. Library cards are free to county residents. Go to https://www.pamunkeylibrary.org/ to see what is has to offer.