Samuels Library mentioned in "Libraries: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)"
Samuels Public Library featured on John Oliver's "Last Week Tonight" in response to book banning challenges public libraries are facing across the nation.
Samuels Public Library was mentioned in John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight on May 9, 2024 at the 8:45 timestamp, as public libraries have become focal points in the national conversation around book banning and intellectual freedom.
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Posted May 9, 2024
In the May 5, 2024 episode of Last Week Tonight, John Oliver examined the growing wave of book bans and censorship campaigns targeting public libraries across the United States. Oliver referenced a March 2024 press release published by the American Library Association (ALA), which stated the following:
“The number of titles targeted for censorship surged 65 percent in 2023 compared to 2022, reaching the highest levels ever documented by the American Library Association (ALA). The new numbers released today show efforts to censor 4,240 unique book titles* in schools and libraries. This tops the previous high from 2022, when 2,571 unique titles were targeted for censorship.”
He highlighted how these efforts are often driven by a small but vocal group of political activists and organizations — many with ties to conservative and religious ideologies — who target books, particularly those addressing LGBTQ+ identities, race, and gender.
Oliver pointed out that these groups frequently mischaracterize the content of books to stir moral panic, even when the materials are appropriately shelved for older teens or adults. He criticized the disproportionate influence these campaigns have on local governments, leading to reduced funding, librarian harassment, and efforts to control library boards. The segment included real examples of libraries facing budget threats, staff firings, and closure risks.
One of the libraries Oliver featured, beginning at 8:45, was Samuels Public Library in Front Royal, Virginia.
Samuels Public Library was spotlighted in the episode as a real-world example of a library caught in the middle of these censorship battles. In 2023, the library faced intense pressure from a local group, who self-identified as ‘Clean Up Samuels’, demanding the removal of over 100 books that included LGBTQ+ content. This pressure resulted in threats to the library’s funding and a broader political dispute within the county.
Despite the backlash, Samuels Public Library stood firm in its commitment to intellectual freedom and inclusivity, ultimately receiving recognition as the Virginia Library Association’s 2024 Library of the Year. Its inclusion in Oliver’s segment underscores the national relevance of its struggle — and the broader implications for libraries everywhere.
Now, a year later, Samuels Public Library is actively defending its commitment to free and equitable access to information, even as its operational funding is at serious risk beyond June 30, 2025.