First Library Director Visits Samuels Library

March 12th, 2025

Today Mr. Gary Graham came for a special visit with the staff of Samuels Public Library. Mr. Graham is a bit of a legend here at the Library. Some might remember that Mr. Graham was the first Library Director, and he was pivotal in the transition from the Chester St. location to Villa Ave. He helped design and then run the Villa Ave. location. Mr. Graham enjoyed a tour of the library remarking on the wide-open spaces. “This is more than I ever, ever, ever would have expected. You know, for it to be one generation building to the next generation building, I would have thought that it was impossible. It’s pretty incredible.” He noted that given the population of Warren County, it is a rare but wonderful thing to have a library of this size and caliber with so many services to offer.

Mr. Graham treated the staff to some delightful stories about employees who worked at Villa Ave., some of their fundraising challenges, the old gigantic card catalog, staff concerns at the time, and patrons’ favorites. He pointed out that no two libraries are the same, and that a good library can tailor its collection to their specific community and be responsive to their needs.
Gary Graham and Samuels Library staff
Erin Rooney and Gary Graham

Mr. Graham was invited to be part of a special project entitled “Echoes of the Past” with Project Leader and local author Colleen Snyder.   “Echoes of the Past” is an oral history project with key community members that focuses on the development of Samuels Public Library from 1953 when it was located on Chester St., to 1980 at the Villa Ave. site, and on to 2010 and its current Criser Rd. location.

When asked about the origins of Samuels nonprofit status, Mr. Graham said that  Hubert “Hubie” Marlow was responsible for raising awareness of the Library’s status as a “Public Library” for all the citizens. Mr. Marlow helped  incorporate the  Library into a 501(c)(3) as Samuels Library, Inc. dba Samuels Public Library to further clarify its official name and to emphasize its public mission.

Later, John Marlow, as a member of the Warren County Board of Supervisors, and again as Mayor, helped move the needle to greater growth and success for Samuels Public Library. Mr. Graham has fond memories of playing tennis with John as well as his time on the Rotary. “So much of fundraising  for the Library was developing contacts and having long-term relationships with leaders who understood the community.”

The staff saw a rare picture from Mr. Graham’s photo album of a young Nicki McGuire (Lynch) and found out that Nicki Lynch, former Samuels Public Library Director, got her start at Samuels on Villa Ave. working with children before going on to get her Master of Library Science in Maryland.  She became the Library Director at the new Criser Road location.

The Library’s current Director Erin Rooney and Mr. Graham connected the past to the present through behind-the-scenes stories that showed how the community’s vision for the Library in 1980 at Villa Ave carried forward to the Library’s current organization on Criser Rd. Gary was most impressed with Erin’s tour of the innovative Studio 330, which provides the latest in learning opportunities for the public, a core mission of the Library since its earliest days. The 5-year, $500,000 Mellon Foundation grant was something he could never have dreamed of back at the Villa Ave. location.

Mr. Graham spent a lot of time fundraising as the Library Director. One fun story was when the local “hairdressers” got together to offer $5 haircuts and held a fashion show to raise money for the Library.

Historically, Mr. Graham faced many of the same successes and challenges working with Warren County’s Board of Supervisors as the Library does today.  The day ended with words of support and promises of future meetings. What an inspiration!

Gary Graham and Erin Rooney in Studio 330