Kelvin Watson

About Kelvin Watson

Executive Director Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, 2 mil pop, square miles, 25 locations, and $75+ mil budget. Former Director of Broward County Libraries 1.9 million people, 38 locations, and $70+ mil budget. I\'ve made transformative changes in my career, leading ambitious and innovative initiatives positioning the library as a community leader. Streamlined access to resources, introduced new technology, developed partnerships, along with new collaborative relationships with internal agencies and external organizations. The Florida Library Association recognized Broward as the 2020 Library of the Year. I was named 2019 Librarian of the Year by FLA.Career began officer in the US Army, transitioned to private sector as an executive with Ingram Library Services, Borders Group and The Library Corporation. Led to library service at National Agricultural Library & Queens Public Library. In Queens instrumental in the creation of QL Virtual Library, the Flexible Standard for E-content NISO (FASTEN) pilot project and a groundbreaking community mobile tablet lending program post-Hurricane Sandy. Throughout his career, my career I have remained active and involved in professional associations, been a frequent international speaker and panelist at conferences, published in national library literature, recognized numerous times for my work. I serve on the San Jose State University School of Information, Leadership and Management Program Advisory Committee. I am a Past President of Black Caucus of American Library Association and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Book Industry Study Group, a member of the Public Library Association Board of Directors, Board of Directors/President-Elect for the Southeast Florida Library Information Network, American Library Association Co-Chair for the Digital Content Working Group, Florida Library Association Co-Chair Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility Task Force. I was the 2016 inaugural winner of the American Library Association’s Ernest A. DiMattia Award for Innovation and Service to Community and Profession, and recipient of the 2017 DEMCO/ALA Black Caucus Award for Excellence in Librarianship. In 2019 Friends of the African American Research Library and Cultural Center Community Service & Distinguished Achievement Honoree, recognized me. I am a member of the Ft. Lauderdale Alumni Chapter and Life member Southaven Mississippi Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. I received a B.S. Business Admin(Lincoln University, MO) and M.L.S.(North Carolina Central University).

Experience

1. Co-chair of the American Library Association s Joint Working Group on Digital Content

   American Library Association

   Sep 2019 — Present

Education

• Lincoln University (MO)

  BS, Business Administration, Military Science

  1990 — 1994

• North Carolina Central University

  Masters, Library Science

  2005 — 2007

• Georgia Southwestern State University

  Master of Business Administration - MBA

  2021 — 2023