Program Type:
GenealogyAge Group:
AdultsProgram Description
Event Details
Kentucky has had more bookmobiles on the Commonwealth’s highways than any other state for almost 70 years! Prior to that time, Kentucky ranked at the bottom for library service, few books were available and 1/3 of Kentuckians who volunteered for the armed forces were rejected for being illiterate. A small group of Kentuckians led by a Louisville businessman, the matron of Kentucky’s most prominent newspaper family, and the granddaughter of an old Louisville family organized a campaign to fix this situation. In this webinar, listen to Wayne Onkst tell the story of the earliest attempts to bring books to Kentuckians and learn how this small but dedicated group brought books to rural Kentucky and laid the foundation for public library service we enjoy today.
Wayne Onkst is the retired State Librarian and Commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives. A lifelong lover of books and reading, he took his first job at the age of 16 in the Laurel County Public Library. After obtaining degrees in history and library science from the University of Kentucky, he was a librarian at the Kenton County Public Library for 27 years, serving as Director of the Library from 1999-2006. In 2006, he was appointed State Librarian and Commissioner and served until 2015.
He authored Buffalo Trails to the 21st Century: a History of Erlanger, Ky. and Presidential Visits to Kentucky 1819-2017.
Disclaimer(s)
Photo Disclaimer
The Henderson County Public Library (HCPL) occasionally uses photographs and/or video of patrons in its publications such as brochures, newsletters, magazines, web and social media sites, display boards, or other non-HCPL publications. By attending this program, you are granting HCPL permission to use your and/or your child’s image for future promotional materials/content for the library. By attending, you also understand that once your image is posted on the Internet, the image can be downloaded.
If you do not want your and/or your child’s photo taken, please contact Danielle Anguish for children’s programs at danguish@hcpl.org or (270) 826-3712 ext. 3. For teen programs please contact Glennese Patterson at gpatterson@hcpl.org or call (270) 826-3712 ext. 4.