State librarian given lifetime achievement award

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Wayne Onkst, the state’s top librarian, is being recognized for a lifetime of service by the Kentucky Library Association.

The association recently gave a Lifetime Achievement Award to Onkst, who is Kentucky's state librarian and commissioner of the department for libraries and archives and previously was director of the Kenton County Public Library.

Since Onkst became state librarian in 2006, public library use in the state has increased to a record 20 million visits recorded last year, according to a release announcing the award. Onkst was also instrumental in ensuring every county has public library service, a first for Kentucky.

The London, Ky., native began his 40-year library career shelving books at the Laurel County Public Library.