Wayne Onkst

Wayne Onkst’s first job as a teenager was shelving books at the Laurel County Public Library. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in History and a Master’s Degree in Library Science from the University of Kentucky. He held various positions at the Kenton County Public Library, becoming the library’s director in 1999. His work as Director included construction of two Library branches and launching of the Library’s Read Racer, which provides books and services to preschoolers. 

He was appointed Kentucky’s State Librarian and Commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives in 2006 and served until his retirement in 2015. He served as President of the Kentucky Public Library Association, President of the Greater Cincinnati Library Consortium, Chair of the Kentucky Virtual Library Advisory Committee, Chair of the State Archives and Records Commission, Secretary of the Chiefs of State Library Agencies and President of the Southern Council of State Librarians. In 2005, Wayne was honored with the American Library Association’s Sullivan Award for outstanding service to children and, in 2012, was awarded the Kentucky Library Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award.