Kitts said Tuesday his last day in Tonganoxie would be May 28. He’s accepted a position as education librarian at Washburn University’s Mabee Library, he said. He started in Tonganoxie in August 2008 soon after earning his master’s degree in library science from Emporia State University. Kitts said when he was hired, he was asked to get more youngsters of all ages into the library.

“That’s always been my focus, to make the library a welcome place for them after school,” he said. “I think I’ve been pretty successful in that.

“One of my favorite things is kids will come knock on my door and when I ask what they want, they’ll say, ‘Nothing, I just want to say hi.’ That’s what I’ll miss the most.”

One of his responsibilities would be a curriculum resource center, which he said was a mock version of a public library.

“I’ll be giving students the opportunity to see what it’s like in a public library setting before they go out in the real world,” he said.

Tonganoxie Public Library Board President Kara Reed said Kitts did a “wonderful” job for the library and the community.

“He certainly made it a place for younger people to hang out,” she said. “I hope our new director will do the same thing. I think it’s a wonderful asset to have the younger people involved there.”

The search for Kitts’ replacement will start immediately and the board hopes to have a new director by August or September, Reed said. Qualifications for the $38,000 to $42,000 a year job include a master’s degree in library science and experience in the library field.