Marquita Boehnke, longtime Ellinwood resident, retired March 31 after 39 years of service with the Central Kansas Library System. Boehnke served as the Youth Services consultant and worked with libraries in 17 counties.
Gail Santy at CKLS notes that over her career with the Central Kansas Library System, Boehnke maintained an unwavering conviction and a clear vision for fun, enriching library programming and services for children that are do-able by small and rural libraries in central Kansas.
“Marquita worked tirelessly to insure quality summer library programs for young readers in Kansas and across the United States,” Santy said, noting she served in various leadership roles and on committees serving children.
“Through her work with the Collaborative Summer Library Program and other professional organizations, Marquita was an unwavering voice and fierce advocate for children and children’s library services. Marquita’s passion and spirit will live on the in the resource collection used by Central Kansas librarians and the thousands of young patrons they serve.
“Community outreach, innovative youth library programming, and quality continuing education for librarians all delivered with an enthusiastic, imaginative vision best describe Marquita’s contribution to the Kansas library community.”