Good afternoon, everyone.

Uh I am 2026.

We are meeting in person in room 500 of the John A.

Wilson building and virtually via Zoom.

The time is now 108 p.m.

Today we are conducting a public round table to consider two confirmation resolutions for new appointees to the District of Columbia Board of Library Trustees.

PR 26-0671, the Board of Library Trustees, Denise Rolark Barnes Confirmation Resolution of 2026, and PR26-0672, the Board of Library Trustees, Mary Early Confirmation Resolution of 2026.

The District of Columbia Public Library was established as an independent agency in 1896 by an Act of Congress.

Congress also created a Board of Library Trustees to develop policy for the library.

The board consists of nine unpaid residents who are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the council, as well as Director Ray Zgavalon, who serves as a non-voting ex officio member of the board.

Trustees serve a five-year term and are limited to a maximum of two terms.

There are currently seven members of the board and two vacancies.

The work of our library trustees supports the maintenance of our 26 libraries, relevant programming that facilitates lifelong learning and the efficient use of public funds that support our library system.

You're a veteran at this, but please be sure to turn your microphone on in front of your seat.

And when you are ready, you may begin.

Good afternoon, Mr.

Chairman, members of the committee.

My name is Robert Benson Branham.

I am President Emeritus of the DC Federation of Civic Associations.

For Denise Roloff Barnes.

I have known Denise for many many years.

She is accomplished.

We have been involved in many civic activities in the District of Columbia.

And there was a period of time when we both served on the DC commission on the Martin Luther King holiday.

Denise is highly professional, highly accomplished, distinctive, and distinguished.

In whatever capacity she has served and will serve.

She brings intellect and integrity.

I can take a great deal of time to extol her accomplishments and virtues.

But it would only be to embarrass her with pleasure.

So I will limit my time and say this to all who hear me.

There is no final person to come before this council for confirmation for this appointment.

Then Denise Rolog Barnes.

And I urge the committee to confirm her appropriately and swiftly.

I thank you.

Thank you very much.

Well, I won't grill you with questions because then you just embarrass Denise.

So thank you very much for your testimony, and I can assure you it is certainly the intention of the committee to act quickly on these nominations.

So, message received, and thank you for coming out to testify.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We will now move on to our nominees' testimony, with what just one note on logistics.

Should any of my uh fellow council members join us, they will have 10 minutes each to ask a round of questions, and I will generally turn to my colleagues in the order they arrive.

Uh starting with Ms.

Rollock Barnes.

Uh, I invite you to come to the table in front of me.

Always nice to see you.

Not often that when I see you, the first thing I say is it's the practice of this committee to place our nominees under oath.

So uh please raise your right hand and state your name.

Denise Rolark Barnes.

Do you swear or affirm under penalty of law that the testimony you are about to provide to the Committee on Human Services is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Yes.

Wonderful.

Uh thank you, Ms.

Rolic Barnes.

You may begin your testimony.

Well, first I have to say thank you to Mr.

Branham.

It was a pleasant real surprise to have him uh endorse my nomination.

And we have, as he said, known each other for many years, and um it means a lot to me to hear what he's um said and his endorsement.

So thank you, Mr.