For immediate release | September 14, 2026
Drey Diggs Selected as the 2026 Julia J. Brody Public Librarian Scholarship Recipient
2026 Julia J. Brody Public Librarian Scholarship Recipient - Drey Diggs
The American Library Association (ALA) is pleased to announce the selection of Drey Diggs of Long Beach, California, as the 2026 recipient of the Julia J. Brody Public Librarian Scholarship.
The Julia J. Brody Public Librarian Scholarship supports students pursuing careers in public librarianship and recognizes a commitment to serving communities through equitable access to information, resources, and library services.
Diggs’s passion for librarianship is rooted in the transformative power of information access. Early experiences with school and public libraries, combined with an undergraduate education that developed critical information literacy skills, shaped a commitment to helping communities navigate an increasingly complex information landscape.
As a library support staff member, Diggs has made diversity, equity, and inclusion a central focus of library service. Work includes incorporating diverse authors and characters into displays, book recommendations, and a Romance Book Club, as well as developing an LGBTQIA+ book club. Community advocacy has also included conversations surrounding services and support for unhoused patrons and efforts to ensure that all community members feel safe and welcome in the library.
Diggs aspires to become a public library reference librarian, with a focus on supporting communities underserved by today's rapidly changing information environment and making critical information literacy accessible to the public.
Experience across public, academic, and elementary school libraries has provided a broad perspective on librarianship and strengthened a commitment to continued professional learning and collaboration.
“I want to become a librarian so that my impact can be greater than what is possible in a support staff role.” Diggs said.
Beyond full-time library service, Diggs hopes to contribute to the profession through conference presentations, workshops, mentorship, and professional engagement focused on emerging information challenges and developments affecting libraries.
Diggs will attend San Jose State University (CA).
The Julia J. Brody scholarship is made possible through a bequest from the estate of Julia Jussim Brody, who earned degrees at Hunter College and Columbia University’s School of Library Science. After working as a librarian at a military post during WWII, Brody spent the remainder of her professional career in various positions working at the New York Public Library.
For details and more information on this scholarship, visit the Julia J. Brody scholarship page.
For information on other scholarships available through the ALA, visit our scholarship page.
The ALA Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment (HRDR) manages the ALA Scholarship Clearinghouse.
Contact:
Kimberly L. Redd, MSHTM
Program Manager, Certification & Talent Development
Office for Human Resource Development and Recruitment (HRDR)
KLredd@ala.org312.280.4279
