Kelvin Watson
As executive director of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, Kelvin Watson oversees 25 branches run by 600+ employees, across 8,000 square miles, with an operating budget of $87.9 million and a collection of 3.6 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. The efforts of Kelvin and his dedicated staff have garnered the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District three consecutive Library of the Future Awards from the American Library Association (ALA). Kelvin is also an ALA Medal of Excellence award winner, and honoree of the ALA Ken Haycock Award for Promoting Librarianship. Most recently, in January 2026, Library Journal named Kelvin Librarian of the Year.
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.
Kelvin earned an MBA from 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.