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CANDIDATE
FOR
ALA PRESIDENT
2023-2024
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Greetings colleagues:
It has been an incredible privilege to hear your concerns and ideas over the last several months, and this has formed my platform for ALA president. If I am entrusted
with this important role, I will pursue the following list of priorities that you have helped me develop. But this list is only a start. Throughout the next two years, I will continue to seek out your ideas and solutions to the challenges that we face together.
My plan includes:
- Advocating for our role as defenders of intellectual freedom
- Advocating for safety and fairness in our workplaces
- Taking steps to realize greater diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and social justice for all library workers
- Advocating for our public, academic, school, and special libraries
- Leveraging my proven fiscal experience to raise funds and reinvest in our people and profession
- Supporting and furthering ALA’s sustainability goals
This election is about you and your hopes for the future of ALA. As a country, and a profession, we face changes and challenges that have not been seen in a generation.
We must stand together as advocates for what we believe in and not waver against a loud and vocal minority.
This is why I am asking for your vote for ALA President, so that with your help, all staff in our ecosystem can work together to implement proven models of success.
With sincere appreciation,
Kelvin Watson
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"Kelvin is a mentor to many, an effective spokesperson on library issues, and the best candidate to lead ALA into the future. He has my highest endorsement for ALA President."
—Sari Feldman, ALA President 2015–2016
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"Kelvin’s leadership experience, both as a library director and a past president of BCALA, have prepared him to be an effective and exciting leader for our association."
—Dr. Martin Garnar, Director of Amherst College Library
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"The ALA will benefit from his ability to see clear paths, engage others to transform to meet the future, and yet empathize with our struggles to move forward in difficult times."
—Michael Blackwell, Director of St. Mary's County Library
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"Kelvin’s leadership & partnership with school libraries to increase student access to electronic material is an asset that school librarians appreciate and look for in our future ALA president."
—Emmanuel Faulkner, MLIS, MCS, Educational Specialist at Baltimore City Public Schools & Past President of Maryland Association of School Libraries
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"Kelvin Watson is an outstanding library administrator and community leader. His experience and commitment to ALA and the profession will make an important difference."
—Jim Neal, University Librarian Emeritus of Columbia University, Past ALA President & Treasurer, ALA Honorary Member
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"I worked closely with Kelvin on the PLA Board of Directors and valued his thought partnership, leadership, and willingness to step up and take on important, strategic work!"
—Michelle Jeske, City Librarian and Executive Director, Denver Public Library
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"As an ALA Spectrum Scholar, Kelvin has set the model for how to support libraries in all we do. Experience is so important in the role of ALA President and he will do the BEST for us."
—Kay K. Runge, PLA President 2000–2001, Exhibitors Roundtable Board & Director Emerita of Des Moines Public Library 2001–2007
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"If elected ALA President, I believe Kelvin will inspire library leaders from all library types & across generations to tirelessly work for the bright future our noble profession deserves."
—Jon E. Cawthorne, Ph.D, Dean of Wayne State University Libraries, includes School of Information Sciences; ACRL President 2020–2021 & Co-Founder of ACRL Diversity Alliance
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"Kelvin Watson is exactly the leader we need at the helm of ALA. He will be a strong, inclusive, and collaborative leader who will engage the membership in very effective ways."
—Maureen Sullivan, President of the ACRL 1998-1999 & ALA President 2012-2013
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