Viola BARRETT

Viola T. Barrett died on December 20, 2020. Viola was ninety-five years of age and was a resident of Brooklyn, NY,
at the time of her death.

A native of the Bronx, Viola developed her love of reading and learning as a child at the Mott Haven Branch. In 1965, she
began her NYPL career at that same branch, followed by assignments at Francis Martin, Van Cortlandt, and Parkchester.
She was the Principal Librarian for the Midtown South region at Jefferson Market and subsequently the head of the Mid-
Manhattan Literature and Language department. At the time of her retirement in 1987, Viola was the Coordinator of Adult
Services. Among her many achievements at NYPL, Viola was most proud of the instrumental role she played in the
formation of a librarians’ union in the 1960s.

Viola and her husband relocated to Lafayette, CO, where they remained until 2005, when they returned to Brooklyn. After
the death of her husband, Viola divided her time between Brooklyn and Stuart, FL. She was actively involved in the social
life of her condominium community in Florida. In the Fall of 2019, she returned to Brooklyn, where she continued to maintain
her humor, joy in life, and service and care for her family and others.

See New York Public Library Retirees Newsletter, Issue 46, page 2
See New York Public Library Retirees Newsletter, Issue 39, page 9. 
See New York Public Library Retirees Newsletter, Issue 38, page 10.
See New York Public Library Retirees Newsletter, Issue 34, page 3.
See New York Public Library Retirees Newsletter, Issue 20, page 11.
See New York Public Library Retirees Newsletter, Issue 15, page 2.
See New York Public Library Retirees Newsletter, Issue 10, page 4.