Friends of Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Public Library honors the legacy of Betty J. Johnson, a lifelong advocate for literacy, education, and the Newtown community.

 

For nearly 40 years, Johnson served Sarasota County through her work at the Selby Public Library, dedicating herself to expanding access to books, education and opportunity. In 1979, she founded a Friends of the Library group that secured a state grant to launch a mobile library serving five North Sarasota neighborhoods.

 

Johnson's vision and dedication helped make the North Sarasota Library a reality, and she proudly attended its groundbreaking in 2003. In recognition of her decades of service and commitment to youth literacy, the Sarasota County Commission renamed the library in her honor.

 

Today, the Friends of Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Public Library continues her vision by supporting literacy, lifelong learning, and a stronger, more connected community for generations to come.

 

‘It’s an honor to be recognized by the community and the County Commission,” Johnson said. “The feeling is indescribable. I’m still pinching myself.”

 

In addition to renaming the library, the County also honored community leader and civil rights activist Dr. Edward James II by naming the library’s largest meeting room in his memory following his passing in 2018.