We believe a great library builds community - join us!

Founded in 1961, the Brentwood Public Library is located in Jacksonville's urban core. It serves a fragile community where an estimated 66% of the families exist at or below the national poverty level - an extraordinarily high percentage compared to the rest of the Northeast Florida area. In 2013, the library was slated to close amid widespread city budget cuts. Mrs. Sharon Coon, a local resident and parent, organized and led a grassroots community effort to save the library by enlisting the support of local journalists, civic leaders, library patrons, neighborhood citizens, and area businesses.


  • A decade later, The Friends of the Brentwood Library is now a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation offering vibrant programming, special events, and service opportunities that help local high school students fulfill their Bright Futures college scholarship requirement for the state of Florida. We are led by an incredible group of volunteers comprised of teachers, retired educators, youth ambassadors, senior citizens, library patrons, and more. We are proudly operated 100% by volunteers and funded by private and public donors.

TEA PARTY

Children’s Reading

Cicely Tyson

Our Urban Core Enrichment
children’s programming
increases library use by
encouraging educational
readiness, literacy, and
cultural family engagement.

PROGRAMS

Our Back-to-School Bash,
Reading Tea Parties, Storytime
with Santa, and other events
are great ways to introduce
new families to our community
of literacy and learning!

SPECIAL EVENTS

Our Youth Ambassadors
help the next generation of
lifelong learners grow in
knowledge and experience a
community library at its

very best!

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

What we do


COMING SOON:

  • 2025 James Weldon Johnson Young Writers Festival

Founder/Chair

Sharon Coon

Treasurer

Liz McCoy

Secretary

Dale Wilson

Sabrina Stargill, Assistant

Directors

Reverend Kennetta Carter

Denitria Davis

  • Dr. Randly L. Woods

Leadership

EMERITUS

Reverend Marquise Hardrick • Harry Reagan

  • Dr. Cora H. Reed • Melvin "T" Turnage

Advisory Board

Jeanette Ali

Daniel K. Bean, Attorney

Glendia Cooper

Judge Pauline Drake

Deborah Thompson

Darryl Willie, DCPS Chairman


Youth Ambassadors

Major Trent Johnson

Kayla Sheffield

  • Dr. Tarma Woodhouse Young

0.0s

Viral N. Acharva • Jeanette Ali • Sharon Coon • Glendia Cooper • Brian J. Davis • Deborah L. Dickenson • Trudy Dixon • Tommy L. Downer
Judge Pauline M. Drake • Annette Dues • Beverly Keys • Reverend Florence B. Luster • Dr. Cora Reed • Zenobia Scurry

Veronica Session-Fennell • Kayla Sheffield • Shirley Smith • Annie Sneed • Lisa Solomon • Barney E. and Darlene Spann

  • Cynthia Turnage • Joann Walker • Pearl Graham West • Dale & Tisa Wilson • Dr. Randly L. Woods

Donors

AFACME Florida Council #79 • Central Metropolitan CME Missionary Society • City of Jacksonville • Clear & Simple Inc.

Community Rehabilitation Center (CRC) • Delta Sigma Theta Sorority - Jacksonville Alumnae Chapter • FFAC Tax and Financial Services
Florida Blue Foundation • Full Service Schools of Jacksonville • Greater Payne Chapel AME Church • Holsey Temple CME Church

International Blades & Shears • Jacksonville Public Library • Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation • Jacksonville Port Authority

King Solomon Lodge #255 • Lily of the Valley Chapter, Eastern Star #454 • Matt Carlucci State Farm Agency

McGowan Spinal Rehabilitation Clinic • MyVillage • NAJA Shrine Temple #1990 • North Florida Consistory • Phi Kappa Delta National Sorority

QL Douglas Funeral Home • Read USA, Inc. • Simply Healthcare • Steve E. Shirley Living Trust • The Community Foundation of NE Florida

  • TMB Charitable Foundation, Inc. • Vystar Credit Union • Walker-Berry Funerals & Cremations, Inc.

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MAIL

FRIENDS OF BRENTWOOD LIBRARY

c/o Brentwood Public Library

3725 N Pearl Street

Jacksonville, FL 32206

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Post Office Box 3660

Jacksonville, FL 32206

PHONE

(904)520-4194

The Friends of Brentwood

Public Library, Inc.

Support Us

PAYPAL

EIN: 47-4519534