Affect Change
At Your
School Library
Family Friendly Libraries is a grassroots organization started by Karen Jo Gounaud in 1992 in Fairfax County, Virginia in response to a proliferation of internet pornography and age-inappropriate materials in local school and public libraries. Soon, FFL was helping citizens across the nation with library issues .
By 1995, FFL had become a national organization with affiliates in all fifty states. Phil Burress of Cincinnati's Citizen's for Community Values was serving as Chairman with Karen Jo Gounaud as President.
Under the stewardship of Karen Jo Gounaud and Phil Burress, the growing problem of internet pornography and age-inappropriate materials in school and public libraries was brought to the fore as an issue for national debate.
As FFL President, Karen Jo Gounaud participated regularly in television and radio interviews and debates and was a featured speaker and panel member at library and pro-family conferences across the country. She also wrote articles and columns for a variety of publications including national magazines like Dr. Laura's Perspective and Dr. Dobson's Citizen.
In addition, Mrs. Gounaud authored a pamphlet for the Family Research Council titled “Making Your Library Family Friendly."
In 2006, leadership of Family Friendly Libraries was passed to Denise Varenhorst and Judy Craft who had led the Georgia Family Friendly Libraries affiliate.
In 2008, Denise Varenhorst, president of Family Friendly Libraries, was appointed to the Gwinnett County Library Board to fill the slot vacated by Brett Taylor, who was arrested on child molestation charges and still awaits trial.
- Denise Varenhorst, President and former library board trustee
- Judy Craft, Vice President
- Judy Dyer, Librarian Consultant
