Home » New license plate encourages drivers to ‘Support Kentucky’s Libraries’

New license plate encourages drivers to ‘Support Kentucky’s Libraries’

From left: Wayne Onkst, State Librarian and Commissioner, Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives; Steve Marcum, Chair, Kentucky Library Trustees Association; Terry Buckner, Past-President, Kentucky Library Association; Lisa Rice, President, Kentucky Library Association; First Lady Jane Beshear and Gov. Steve Beshear.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Sept. 28, 2012) – A new Kentucky license plate gives drivers the opportunity to show their support for libraries. Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives Commissioner Wayne Onkst recently presented the “Support Kentucky’s Libraries” license plate to Gov. Steve Beshear and First Lady Jane Beshear.

“Kentucky’s public libraries welcomed more than 20 million visitors last year who checked out more than 30 million books and other items,” said Beshear. “It’s clear that Kentuckians love their public libraries, and now they have another way to show their support.”

The new plate is available at any county clerk’s office with a $25 application fee. At the time of issuance, an optional $10 can be paid to fund library science scholarships.

“Public libraries not only make reading possible and more accessible to Kentuckians, they offer computer access and a place in our communities for continued education and job training courses,” said Mrs. Beshear. “People truly value the positive impact public libraries have in our communities and this license plate is a perfect way for them to display their support.”

The Kentucky Library Association (KLA) worked with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to make the license plate available. Citizens from across the Commonwealth signed the application petition, which requires a minimum of 900 signatures to create a new plate.

“In this difficult economic climate, public libraries fill a critical need in the community,” said KLA Library Awareness Committee Chair and Logan County Public Library director Linda Kompanik, who spearheaded the effort to bring such a license plate to Kentucky. “For years, we’ve had library users who expressed interest in a way to show their support for libraries of all kinds – public, academic and special libraries. This new license plate is a great way to do just that.”