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Library access and staffing raised as students lack databases and librarian seeks dedicated assistant
Summary
Several speakers, including a former librarian and a public commenter, told the board students lack access to vetted databases and library services; the town-hall read a written request from a librarian asking that the division include a full-time library assistant in the 2025–26 budget.
Cynthia Montague and other public commenters told the Matthews County School Board on Oct. 23 that students do not have reliable access to vetted research databases and that promised library web pages and supports have not been implemented.
Montague said she offered to help build a high-school library web page 20 months ago and that students currently "just Google" rather than using subscription or vetted academic databases. "Our students are being robbed of the opportunity to access educational resources," she said, referencing the Code of Virginia and the board’s own policy on library media centers.
Doctor Daniel acknowledged work on a high-school library page and told the town hall he expected the page to go live "probably within the next two weeks," but he could not confirm which databases would be linked at launch. He also said implementation is constrained by staffing and approval processes.
The meeting read a written submission from Jenny Ewell, the Thomas Hunter Middle School librarian, asking the board to include a designated full-time library assistant in next year’s budget. Ewell described supervising multiple grade levels and managing seven budgets, Chromebooks, book fairs and administrative tasks; she wrote that an assistant promised at the start of the year had not been provided.
Doctor Daniel said the division reassigned an assistant this year and that budget constraints prevented adding a permanent position; he said the administration is discussing stratifying teacher-assistant roles and reviewing salary scales and job descriptions as part of broader staffing and consolidation planning.
Board members said they would review the issue in upcoming work sessions and that the library-assistant question is on a future agenda. The town hall did not include a formal budget vote; Ewell’s request was entered into the record for follow-up.
