Kelvin Watson Named 2026 Librarian of the Year

The national award honors Watson’s work in driving innovation and changing lives across Southern Nevada.

Las Vegas-Clark County Library District Executive Director Kelvin Watson has been named 2026 Librarian of the Year by Library Journal. This prestigious national honor recognizes Watson’s transformative leadership and commitment to breaking down barriers to information access, addressing inequities and increasing opportunities for Southern Nevadans. 

In its announcement, Library Journal lauded Watson for his ability to “bring together a range of collaborators from across the county to drive innovation and change lives — not to mention opening the brand new, reimagined West Las Vegas Library that promises to be a neighborhood game-changer.” 

This includes work with such partners as the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada, Cox Communications, NFL Foundation, Sunrise Children’s Hospital, Hope for Prisoners, Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, local barbershops, and more. 

The Librarian of the Year award is the highest honor in the profession. It recognizes individuals whose accomplishments reflect the loftiest goals of librarianship: ensuring free access to information for all, encouraging a love of reading, and strengthening the library’s position as a vital community pillar. 

“Kelvin Watson hit the ground running when he arrived at the Library District and hasn’t stopped,” said Lisa Peet, Executive Editor, News and Features, of Library Journal. “He has gotten to know the local business, government, and community movers, initiated conversations about potential collaborations, and then followed through on those ideas to improve the lives of Las Vegas and Clark County residents. His imagination, future-readiness, and care for the community are a great example of librarianship envisioned broadly.” 

Watson’s work and leadership philosophy are featured in the January issue of Library Journal in a profile titled, “Library A-List: Kelvin Watson Is LJ’s 2026 Librarian of the Year.” 

“I am humbled and honored to be recognized for the work that my team and I have accomplished over the past nearly five years,” Watson says, “And I am so proud to share this award with them. When I accepted this position in 2021, I was certain that Southern Nevada, which thrives on innovation, would support the kind of 21st Century thinking that I wanted to bring to our library system. The support we have received from all sectors of the Las Vegas community have been phenomenal, and I am excited to say that together, we are just getting started.”