Since 1976, the Friends of the Brentwood Library (the Friends) have been partnering with the City of Brentwood to provide enhanced services and programming for the patrons of the John P. Holt Brentwood Library. Each year, the Friends and their 460+ members raise and donate funds to cover all adult, teen, and children's programming (except the Easter Egg Hunt and Morning with Santa), and much of the special technology upgrades, equipment, and staff development. Recently, the Friends donated $30,000 to replace the moving wall in the meeting rooms and $25,000 for a comprehensive space plan to re-imagine the library spaces. In addition to capital projects, they also complete a plethora of smaller projects each year, including new stories for the StoryWalk, poinsettia tree, hot cocoa for the Tree Lighting, monthly art gallery and showcase, book club sets, volunteer recognition, telescopes, ukuleles, binoculars, and more. Over their 45-year history, they have donated over $1.5 million to the library, and plan to continue for many more years.
The library's space plan developed in 2021 envisions conversion of the current Reading Room into the "Gathering Room," a flexible place for all patrons to meet, collaborate, and enjoy. The Friends have proposed that the Gathering Room be known as the "Friends Gathering Room". Many of the features of this space are connected to the Friends, including the book club sets, Art Lending Library, Polar Express readings, puzzles, and games. Renaming this space would also provide a rally point for future Friends fundraising and allow them to continue to support the John P. Holt Brentwood Library. The Friends have indicated that they understand the renaming does not convey any operational or programmatic control of that space. |