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Kelvin Watson

Executive Director
Las Vegas-Clark County Library District

Picture of Kelvin WatsonAs executive director of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, Kelvin Watson oversees 25 branches run by 600+ employees, spanning , with an operating budget of $88 million and a collection of 3.7 million items. Kelvin's innovative, award-winning leadership and focus on fundraising, technology, program development, and the digital divide has helped Nevada's largest library system further extend its reach beyond its walls and bring library resources into the community.

Regarded as one of the most highly respected thought leaders in the library industry, Kelvin has been credited, in multiple library management roles, with expanding his customer base through outreach efforts to underserved and diverse populations. Several of these initiatives have been recognized by national library trade associations. Most notably, the American Library Association (ALA) has honored the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District with its annual Library of the Future Award for a record-setting three consecutive years 2022, 2023 and 2024. These initiatives include:

  • Anywhere Library (2022), is a partnership between the Library District and the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada that provides instant, free access to the Library District catalogue on 400+ city buses using onboard WiFi. In addition to the 20223 Library of the Future Award, this program was recognized with the RUSA Best Emerging Technology Award, and the Urban Libraries Council Top Innovators Honorable Mention.
  • The Cell Phone Lending Program (2023) bridged social technology gaps by aiding more than 400 low-income residents and those unhoused with wireless communication and internet services. Recipient of the 2023 ALA Library of the Future Award, and the Urban Libraries Council 2023 Innovation Award for Anti-Racism, Digital Equity & Inclusion.
  • Free To be Connected (2024) incorporated three pioneering community-focused connectivity programs to support and impact underserved communities: the free Cox WiFi program; the book vending machines at Boulevard Mall and Sunrise Children's Hospital; and the family libraries and resources created at the Hope for Prisoners and Casa Grande transitional housing and re-entry centers.
In addition, Kelvin has been individually recognized by the library industry and the Southern Nevada community with the ALA Medal of Excellence, City of Las Vegas African American Trailblazer Award, and the NAACP Las Vegas Chapter James Anderson Visionary Award.

 

Kelvin joined the Library District from his role as the director of the Broward County Libraries Division, where he managed 38 locations in the Ft. Lauderdale, Florida region. During his tenure, he brought transformative change through ambitious and groundbreaking initiatives, such as streamlining access to resources, introducing modern technologies, and developing new collaborative partnerships. He was named the 2021 winner of the RUSA Margaret E. Monroe Library Adult Services Award for his dedication to implementing new and innovative ways to meet new and existing customers "where they are" using non-traditional methods.

Under Kelvin's leadership, the Florida Library Association (FLA) named Broward County Libraries as the 2020 Library of the Year. In 2019, the FLA named Kelvin the Librarian of the Year, and the American Library Association (ALA) named the Broward County Libraries the Library of the Future. Other awards during his career have included: the 2016 inaugural ALA Ernest A. DiMattia Award for Innovation and Service to Community and Profession; the 2017 DEMCO/ALA Black Caucus Award for Excellence in Librarianship; and the 2019 Community Service & Distinguished Achievement Honoree by the Friends of the African American Research Library and Cultural Center.

Previously, he served as COO/senior vice president for Queens Library, after rising through the leadership ranks of the organization from a distinguished background in technology. In his prior role as chief innovation & technology officer/vice president, information, technology, and development, he helped establish several groundbreaking programs, and developed and implemented digital divide strategies, promoting equality and equity for all.

 

Kelvin started his career as a Commissioned Officer in the Active U.S. Army and Army Reserves, later transitioning to the private sector as a leader with Ingram Library Services, Borders Group, and The Library Corporation (TLC). These positions fueled his passion for library science, and he joined the USDA National Agricultural Library.

Throughout his career, he has remained active as a speaker and panelist at conferences and an author of articles in national library publications. He serves on the San Jose State University School of Information, Leadership, and Management Program Advisory Committee, co-chairs the American Library Association Digital Content Working Group, and serves on the American Library Association Business Advisory Group, REALM Project Steering Committee, and on the Board of the Book Industry Study Group. He is a past president of Black Caucus of the American Library Association and past Public Library Association Board member.

Additionally, Kelvin has served in a diverse number of volunteer leadership roles: Governor's Commission on Educational Technology; Director of the Springs Preserve Foundation; Southern Nevada's Workforce Connections Board of Directors; member of 100 Black Men of Las Vegas; FLA Co-Chair of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility Task Force, bringing together young, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals to make their voices heard within the Florida Library Association; a member of the ALA Committee on Accreditation; New York State Regents Advisory Council on Libraries; Metropolitan New York Library Council Board of Trustees; Asian/Pacific Librarians Association Research and Travel Awards Committee; Coretta Scott King Book Award Juror; AASL Diversity Task Force member; Spectrum Scholarship Juror; Young Librarians ALA Presidential Task Force member; Legacy South Florida magazine's 50 Most Influential and Powerful Black Professionals of 2020; Profiled in Black Issues Book Review Jan/Feb 2006 Issue as one of the "Influential African Americans in the Book Industry"; and Parkway Alumni Hall of Fame - Class of 2006. 

Kelvin earned an MBA, Georgia Southwestern State University in December 2023. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and a Minor in Military Science from Lincoln University in Missouri, where he is a member of the ROTC Hall of Fame. He earned his MLS Degree from North Carolina Central University. In 2019, he completed the MIT SLOAN School of Management Executive Program Certificate, Internet of Things: Business Implications and Opportunities and the MIT SLOAN School of Management Executive Program Certificate, Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy. In 2020, he completed the MIT SLOAN School of Management Executive Program Certificate, Cybersecurity, 2020. Kelvin is also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and Beta Phi Mu Honor Society. 

 

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