The Julia Jussim Brody Legacy honors a distinguished children's librarian and will provide books for summer readers for years to come.
Julia Jussim Brody (1923-2019) began her distinguished career at the New York Public Library as a children’s librarian, then moved into administering and developing branch libraries, and eventually retired as Chief of the NYPL's Mid-Manhattan Library and Associate Director for Central Library Services. Noted for her storytelling both in NYPL and with neighborhood and family children, she remained at heart a children’s librarian, never losing her interest in and love of children’s books, generously sharing that love as well as the books with young readers.
To honor her legacy, her family has started the Julia Jussim Brody Bequest to continue to support children’s literacy. In the years ahead, funds will go towards the purchase of children’s books for every child that participates in the Library’s summer reading programs. Summer reading 2021 was the first to feature the bookplate designed by a member of the family, and each child who registered received a free book containing the bookplate.