Holly Flood emphasizes outreach, stewardship and lived experience in library nomination hearing

Holly Flood, a Ward 1 native and former Peace Corps volunteer, appeared before the Committee on Human Services March 12 as a nominee to the D.C. Public Library Board of Trustees. Flood described a three-decade international career in humanitarian response and later local nonprofit work, and said she pivoted to local service after being furloughed in 2025. She currently works as a grants and corporate relations specialist at Christ House and volunteers as a long-term care ombudsman specialist through AARP.

Flood told committee members she uses neighborhood branches regularly (Mount Pleasant and Cleveland Park were cited) and said outreach to populations who may not see libraries as accessible should be a priority. "I would look forward to being an enthusiastic advocate for books and reading, ensuring that our neighbors across the City are fully aware of and able to access the Library's many services and benefits," she said. On committee placement she signaled interest in finance, budget and programs/partnerships and said she sees no present conflicts of interest and would recuse if advised.

Committee members pressed Flood on how to increase usage at underused branches; she recommended outreach programs that meet people where they are and offered Christ House as an example of library outreach to people experiencing homelessness. No vote was taken at the roundtable.