More than half say it should stay
Well over 100 people squeezed into the meeting room at the Rappahannock County Public Library last Thursday for a public hearing on its proposed move, overflowing into the hallway and between bookshelves to voice their opinions.
The library’s Board of Trustees hosted the hearing seeking feedback from residents on an offer from Black Kettle LLC, the company behind the Rush River Commons development in the Town of Washington, to construct a new, “rent-free” library building as part of the development’s second phase.
A concerned Rappahannock resident started a petition against the library’s potential relocation two days before the hearing, which as of Wednesday morning has garnered around ___ signatures. On Sunday, the board responded to the Change.org petition and included highlights of the draft agreement with Rush River.
“Thank you for your support of the Rappahannock County Public Library. Your feedback has been received and is under review,” the board’s message said. “If you are interested in learning more about the history of this project and the opportunity the Board is considering, we encourage you to visit www.rappahannocklibrary.org/expansion-renovation/“
The hearing lasted about two hours, with 35 people expressing varied opinions about the potential relocation or asking questions of the board. Nineteen people said the library should stay where it is.
“Keep it here. We love it, it’s in the right place, it’s beautiful,” said Cathy Frazier, Jackson district.
The offer to move came after a fundraising effort to expand at the current Library Road site was deemed nearly impossible by a 2025 feasibility study. The board determined after a 2021 survey of county residents that a roughly 9,000-square-foot facility with additional programming space, meeting rooms and dedicated areas for children and teens was necessary. The proposed new building is 8,000-9,000 square feet.
It was revealed in a board presentation ahead of the public hearing that if the library were to relocate to Rush River Commons, backed by local philanthropist Chuck Akre, the lease would be “gifted” to the library for free for a new building. No rent would be due, according to a fact sheet distributed at the meeting, but a $500 monthly maintenance fee would be charged. In addition to the library, mockups of Rush River Commons’ second phase include office space and a community center.
“I can’t say a lease is a gift,” said Michelle Jenkins, Piedmont district. “This library was built by and for the community, it is owned.”
Librarian Amanda Weakley spoke at the front of the hearing, stating that the library faces many “obstacles,” but encouraged the community to speak its mind — and for the board to listen.
“There is a need for us to be ADA compliant, we want to serve everyone. We do need an actual young adult area in the library, and we could do more with larger meeting space,” Weakley said. “However, I’m not here to tell you that these challenges necessitate relocation. I can confirm that the issues exist, and I think they should be addressed for us to better serve the community.”
The fate of the Book Barn — if the library were to move — was not discussed, though it was one of the questions. “What would happen to the Book Barn?” asked Karen Hunt, Jackson district.
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- Ali Dore, Jackson district, said she loves the library’s programming, but when she brings her children to events like story times, they are rarely well attended.
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- Eve Brooks spoke in favor of the library’s move, and suggested the current building could be used as a senior center or health department. “This [building] is not adequate for a library, but … we have other public needs that need to be met,” she said.
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- A woman sits reading a library book before a public hearing Thursday on whether or not the library should relocate to the Rush River Commons development.
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- Residents spill out of the packed meeting room into the hallway watching a presentation before the public hearing Thursday.
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- Former Piedmont Supervisor Christine Smith spoke against the potential move. “I’d suggest you ask the Board of Supervisors to engage with Mr. Subramanyam to devote that million dollars that won’t float a boat at the courthouse to our local library, where it could be put to very good use,” she said, referring to Rep. Suhas Subramanyam.
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- Vice President John Beardsley presents renderings of what the inside of a new building could look like. “ All of the details here are are hypothetical,” he said. “What we’re looking at here is a proposal for a generous light-filled space with a high ceiling.”
‘Something just don’t smell right’
Some speakers said they wanted the library to stay, in large part because the library’s Board of Trustees owns the building. Residents worried that leasing could jeopardize the library.
“If the Rush River is so beneficial, so good to this community, and if Black Kettle wants to do so much for this community, let them figure out a way to use this wonderful property here,” Demaris Miller, Hampton district, said. “That way we will own the library, we own it. It will not be leased, and we will not be stuck in the swamp commons.”
Christine Smith, a former Piedmont supervisor, said she was “a dorky library kid growing up” and suggested the library find funding to stay in place.
“I’d suggest you ask the Board of Supervisors to engage with Mr. Subramanyam to devote that million dollars that won’t float a boat at the courthouse to our local library, where it could be put to very good use,” she said, referring to Rep. Suhas Subramanyam.
Local attorney David Konick submitted a letter to the board prior to the meeting laying out his — and “a number” of residents he claimed to represent — concerns about the transparency of the board’s negotiations and how the public hearing was handled.
“I want to know why the lease and this great agreement that has been offered by whatever it’s called, Rush River or Black Kettle, isn’t available,” he said. “I want to see it. You’ve discussed it, you’ve summarized it, but you haven’t shown us or anybody else the agreement. Why not?”
A number of residents said the move wasn’t necessary because the library is usually empty.
“I come to this library on a regular basis. I have never seen another child in the reading room whenever we are here with our children,” said Ali Dore, Jackson district. “I come to the preschool reading classes with my two little ones, and there is always more than half the chairs available. ”
“I conclude this, one of four things: The board knows what’s best, you don’t care what the majority thinks, democracy don’t matter, and I hate to say it, but my gut tells me something just don’t smell right,” said Nancy Freeman, Piedmont district.
‘Realities that we must face’
About eight speakers defended the idea of a move.
“I am not here telling you that we should get rid of it, and I don’t take it lightly. I am here with passion, saying that there are sometimes realities that we must face,” said Janet Davis, a former member of the library board. “I’m telling you, though, that the younger people, and what’s coming down the road, and the programming, is requiring something different than we’re going to be able to provide in this building.”
“We have very few other options. If we could raise the money, I’d love to do it,” said Tac Tacelosky, Piedmont district. Thanking the board, he added, “I think if you had a secret solution, you would have let us know.”
“I have an emotional attachment to this building, too,” Sally Haynes, a relocation supporter from the Piedmont district, said. “But I am ready to accept change, and I think it’s probably time for it.”
“I want to congratulate this board for the careful work you’ve done,” Eve Brooks, Piedmont district, said. “This [building] is not adequate for a library, but it is adequate for seniors. It is adequate for a health department. We have other public needs that need to be met.”
Board members were writing comments and questions from the crowd on notepads throughout the hearing, and said answers to the questions posed will be made available on the library’s website, rappahannocklibrary.org.
