The local library where Saquon studied for college entrance exams was about to close — until he donated thousands of books and funded its expansion.
One book contained a letter from Barkley’s teenage self, left behind as a message to future dreamers
From Closure to New Chapters: Saquon Barkley’s Transformative Gift to His Hometown Library
In the small town of Coplay, Pennsylvania, where Saquon Barkley grew from a determined teen into an NFL superstar, the local library stood as a quiet cornerstone of his journey. The Coplay Public Library, a modest brick building on Third Street, was where a young Barkley spent countless evenings studying for his SATs and college entrance exams, dreaming of a future beyond the Lehigh Valley’s steel-town roots. By mid-2025, however, the library faced a grim fate: budget cuts, declining patronage, and a crumbling infrastructure threatened permanent closure. Notices of unpaid utilities and staff layoffs loomed, leaving the community heartbroken. Then, in a gesture as powerful as his on-field sprints, Barkley stepped in, donating thousands of books and funding a major expansion to keep the doors open. Amid the stacks, a discovery added a poignant layer to his gift: a letter from his teenage self, tucked inside a book, written as a message to inspire future dreamers.
Barkley’s story is inseparable from the Lehigh Valley. Born in the Bronx in 1997, he moved to Coplay as a child, where his family navigated financial struggles, including a stint of homelessness before settling in the area for better prospects. At Whitehall High School, Barkley’s athletic talent blossomed—he rushed for over 3,600 yards and earned Mr. Pennsylvania Football honors—but his academic discipline was equally critical. The Coplay Public Library became his refuge, a place where he pored over SAT prep books and researched colleges, driven by his parents’ emphasis on education despite their own limited means. “The library was my quiet place,” Barkley later shared, recalling how its worn tables and outdated computers helped him secure a scholarship to Penn State, setting the stage for his NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles.
By 2025, the library that shaped him was in peril. Serving roughly 3,200 residents in Coplay and surrounding areas, it struggled with a $60,000 budget shortfall. Leaky roofs, outdated wiring, and a dwindling collection—down to just 8,000 books—made closure seem inevitable. Community pleas on local forums caught Barkley’s attention through his Michael Ann and Saquon Barkley Hope Foundation, which focuses on youth empowerment and education. Without hesitation, he committed $250,000 to clear debts, upgrade facilities, and expand the library’s footprint. His donation included 5,000 new books—STEM texts, literature, and SAT prep guides—curated to inspire kids like his younger self. The expansion added a modern study wing, high-speed internet, and a community room for workshops, transforming the library into a vibrant hub.
The renovation began in August 2025, with Barkley quietly attending the groundbreaking, shaking hands with librarians and kids. As staff cataloged the new books, a volunteer found something extraordinary: inside a tattered copy of The Catcher in the Rye, a book Barkley had checked out as a junior, was a handwritten letter from his teenage self. Dated 2014, it read: “To whoever finds this: I’m just a kid from Coplay, studying for my SATs, dreaming big. Don’t let anyone tell you your goals are too far. This library helped me believe. Keep reading, keep grinding. —Saquon.” The letter, written on notebook paper, was a time capsule of his ambition, left intentionally as a beacon for others. Librarians framed it beside the circulation desk, where it now draws daily visitors, many moved to tears by its earnest hope.
Barkley’s gift went beyond money. He spent a weekend hosting a “Dream Big” workshop at the library, coaching teens on goal-setting and sharing his journey from a 150-pound high schooler to an NFL MVP candidate who rushed for over 2,000 yards in 2024. “This place gave me focus when I had doubts,” he told a packed room, urging kids to use the new resources. Parents marveled at his humility, noting how he remembered their names from his high school days. The library’s revival has had a ripple effect: foot traffic doubled, with 200 new memberships in a month, and local schools partnered for tutoring programs in the new study wing.
This act fits Barkley’s pattern of giving back. Through his foundation, he’s funded scholarships, donated winter coats to Allentown students, and supported youth centers across the Lehigh Valley. In 2025, he surprised Milton Hershey School students with motivational talks and established the Saquon Barkley Center of Excellence with St. Luke’s University Health Network to aid underserved youth. On the field, his selflessness shines—sitting out games to let rookies play or giving game balls to fans—reflecting the same spirit that drove him to save the library. “Coplay made me,” he said at the library’s rededication. “I owe it everything.”
The letter’s discovery amplified the story’s impact. Local news outlets covered it, with one parent calling it “a message from Saquon’s past to our kids’ future.” The library, now boasting 13,000 books and a sleek expansion, stands as a testament to his belief in second chances. Enrollment in its programs, from coding classes to college prep, has surged, and the framed letter reminds every visitor that dreams born in quiet corners can change the world. Barkley’s intervention didn’t just save a building; it rekindled a community’s faith in possibility, proving that even in a digital age, a library—and a handwritten note—can alter destinies.
