With a rich history dating back to 1799, Samuels Public Library has provided public access to literature and learning to the County of Warren in the Town of Front Royal thanks to the support of its community. What started out as the second subscription library in Virginia has now evolved into a vibrant community hub that continues to expand upon its resources, services, and programming to increase equitable access to literacy and educational opportunities.

Samuels Library is a one-branch public library that directly serves more than 41,000 people in Warren County. In the last fiscal year, Samuels Library saw more than 132,000 visitors, over 400,000 checkouts, and hosted over 900 programs that welcomed more than 20,000 attendees. This reflects the Library’s dedication to community engagement and literacy initiatives – and even in the face of complete withdrawal of local government funding, effective July 1, 2025, the Library continues to keep its doors open and thrive as a vital community resource, advocating for public libraries, the freedom to read, and the right to information access.

“Samuels Public Library, with professionalism and resilience, has been defying the odds of the national wave of book ban challenges that threaten many libraries with defunding and closure”.

“Samuels Public Library is an exemplary candidate for the Advocacy Award, as it has chosen courage and perseverance, and continues to be a beacon of knowledge and light through the unprecedented surge of book bans that have targeted libraries for offering inclusive selections of books with diverse representations. Samuels Public Library is proof that libraries and other educational institutions targeted by book bans can persevere through these challenging times and advocate for a better future where all knowledge and information is accessible to everyone.”

Eileen Grady began her professional life in the Airline Industry, first as an Auditor and then in a Managerial role in the Revenue Accounting offices of American Airlines. After her return to the Shenandoah Valley, she accepted the position of Business Manager at Samuels Public Library. In 2008 and 2009 she served as the Library Coordinator for the construction and move to a new facility, which nearly tripled the size of the previous library building. As the Library grew, so did the job. Ultimately her position became responsible for all accounting, annual audits, facilities maintenance, oversight of the Circulation Department and all things IT, and with these expanded responsibilities came a new title, Director of Operations. Ms. Grady has been with the Library for more than 22 years, during which period she has stepped into the role of Acting Director on three occasions.

Her exceptional dedication and contributions to Samuels Public Library over her 23-year-and-running tenure as the Director of Operations has significantly enhanced the library's impact on the community and its staff. Ms. Grady has been an integral leader at Samuels Public Library, advocating tirelessly for staff pay and development opportunities. Her efforts to encourage excellence in customer service and library operations elevates the quality of life for library staff and patrons alike. Ms. Grady consistently sets high, yet attainable, standards, empowering her team to grow and excel as library professionals.

The Virginia Library Association congratulates the 2024 Virginia Library of the Year, Samuels Public Library.

Samuels Public Library has been providing public access to literature and learning in Warren County in the Town of Front Royal for more than two centuries. The Front Royal Librarian Society was the second subscription library in the Commonwealth, receiving its charter in 1799. In 1836 the Society was incorporated by the General Assembly and throughout the next century, the Library persevered through war and the Depression. The community has always supported the Library. The ladies of Warren County even held a “Silver Tea” with participants donating a book to grow the collection. Then in 1952 local resident Dr. Bernard Samuels donated a building to house the Library. This generosity was acknowledged through a renaming, and Samuels Public Library was born. With bequests and patron commitments, the Library was about to build a new modern facility which opened to the public in 1980 and with continued community growth and the cooperation of Warren County the doors opened anew in 2009 to a warm, friendly and beautiful location that is now home to Samuels Public Library and the many patrons we call friends.

Today, Samuels Public Library serves more than 41,000 people in the County of Warren and strives to bring people, information, and ideas together to enrich lives and build community. In the last fiscal year the Library had more than 127,000 visitors, over 400,000 checkouts, and hosted 542 programs that saw 19,194 attendees. With growth and commitment to state-of-the-art services, the library was recently honored to receive a grant from the Mellon Foundation to improve and establish a combination Memory Lab and Makerspace enhancing free services for all.

Samuels continues its mission to improve and grow, to provide our community with excellent resources and services, special programs and events, updated technology and will remain one of the best community resources in Front Royal and Warren County.

Melody Hotek has worked for nonprofits and served on Boards for 25 years. Initially with the Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Fairfax and then upon retiring to Front Royal in 2012 she served as the President of the Friends of Samuels Public Library for 6 years, helped establish the organization's nonprofit status, a vibrant Board, and helped with the creation of the Epilogue Bookstore within the library.  Currently she serves as the President of Samuels Public Library Board of Trustees as well as Event Coordinator for the Library's annual fundraiser "A Taste for Books" which raises an average of 20k each year.  The Library is a passion and has become an integral part of a very full life translating into many, many volunteer hours when she is not being "Grandma."

"Ms. Hotek has been the lead of one of our major fundraising events, A Taste for Books, for nearly 10 years. Her creative outlook and motivation has allowed this major fundraising event to become increasingly successful over the years. Ms. Hotek works closely with the management team and library staff to put together a grand event that transforms the Library into a decorative gala for an evening. What makes A Taste for Books so special is Ms. Hotek’s inventiveness and insight on how we can make each year even bigger and better."

"Melody Hotek was appointed as the President of the Board of Trustees just as Samuels Library was in the midst of facing a challenge. In early 2023, a small group in our community with the intent to censor books joined in the nationwide attack against public libraries. Ms. Hotek was on the frontline of the fight to defend our library, while Warren County withheld 75% of the Library’s operational funding in an attempt to force the Library to remove items which they deemed inappropriate. Ms. Hotek stood firm and advised the County Board of Supervisors that the Library would close its doors before it violated the First Amendment rights of the entire community that the Library serves."