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Kelvin Watson, executive director of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District (LVCCLD), is the first American Library Association (ALA) presidential candidate to have been a past recipient of two diversity scholarships, which are designed to address under-representation of critically needed ethnic librarians within the communities.
Watson oversees 25 branches of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District run by 600+ employees, spanning 8,000 square miles, with a budget of $77 million and a collection of 3.2 million items. His background as a U.S. Army veteran, and in the book publishing industry, made him a standout candidate for the ALA Spectrum Scholarship Program and the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Kaleidoscope Program. Kelvin holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, with a Minor in Military Science, from Lincoln University and a master's degree in library science from North Carolina Central University.
Additionally, Kelvin has served in a diverse number of volunteer leadership roles: FLA Co-Chair of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility Task Force, bringing together young, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals to make their voices hear within the Florida Library Association; a member of the ALA Committee on Accreditation; New York State Regents Advisory Council on Libraries; Asian/Pacific Librarians Association Research and Travel Awards Committee, and more.
"As a recipient of both the Spectrum and Kaleidoscope Scholarships, I could not have imagined the honor of standing to lead this fine organization through such difficult and trying times," Watson said. "My leadership roles at four major libraries have prepared me to face our professional challenges head-on, and I am optimistic about our future. America and our libraries continue to transform, and I'm humbled and honored by the possibility of serving the ALA in its highest role."
"Kelvin brought a unique experience as a veteran and vendor to the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Initiative to Recruit a Diverse Workforce," said Dr. Jerome Offord, Jr., former ARL Director of Diversity Initiatives, 2003-2008. "He was able to speak with his cohort about Libraries as a business and how we lead organizations through its mission, with support from its internal operations. We often lean to the mission of libraries as our core value, but library leaders are also challenged with operational, political, and other infrastructure type work. Kelvin exposed his cohort to these issues and have enlightened them to paramount issues impacting library management and leadership."
"In spite of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Kelvin has made an immediate impact in the Las Vegas community," said Elizabeth Foyt, LVCCLD Board of Trustees Secretary, "bringing together powerful community partners and engaging in much-needed strategic planning with groups like Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, the Clark County School District, Nellis Air Force Base, and Nevada Workforce Connections. Kelvin's strong leadership, since taking over as our executive director, has shown his commitment and dedication to the role of libraries in our society. I wholeheartedly endorse him for ALA president."
Source: Las Vegas-Clark County Library District
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