The Kenton County Public Library celebrated the one-year anniversary Wednesday of its Latonia Branch — with a community-wide outdoor and indoor event featuring a bounce house, gaming truck, live music by the Porch Goose Band, as well as food, giveaways, and activities throughout the day.
The library opened the doors to its newest branch in Latonia on June 10, 2025. For many residents, it was the arrival of a long-awaited neighborhood resource. For the library, it was the culmination of a vision more than a century in the making.
What began as a small collection of books in a neighborhood drugstore has grown into Latonia’s first permanent public library facility, a place built on generations of community support and a shared belief that access to knowledge, opportunity and connection matters.
One year later, the Latonia Branch has welcomed more than 60,000 visitors, circulated more than 80,000 items and become a thriving center for learning, connection and community life.
“The Latonia Branch represents what public libraries do best: meet people where they are and create opportunities for lifelong learning and connection,” said Dave Schroeder, executive director of the Kenton County Public Library. “While we’re celebrating one year in this building, we’re also celebrating a vision that began more than a century ago. Seeing the community embrace this branch so enthusiastically confirms that investing in accessible library service continues to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.”
While the branch is celebrating its first anniversary this year, the story actually begins more than 100 years ago.
A century in the making: KCPL’s Latonia Library
Around 1910, a small “library station” containing approximately 150 books was established inside Pope’s Drugstore at Ritte’s Corner. The collection served as an early experiment in bringing library services beyond the walls of Covington’s Carnegie Library and directly into neighborhood communities.
Over the decades, the idea of a permanent library presence in Latonia remained on the community’s radar. As Kenton County Public Library continued to grow and evolve, Latonia consistently emerged as an area with significant need due to its population density, nearby schools, senior living communities and distance from existing library locations.
That vision gained momentum in the 21st Century. Through strategic planning efforts and collaboration with local leaders and planning agencies, KCPL identified Latonia as a priority for future expansion. In October 2023, plans for a new branch were formally approved.
The library ultimately found its home in the Latonia Commerce Center at 3911 Winston Ave. The location was selected for its accessibility to surrounding neighborhoods, pedestrians and public transit users. The result is an 11,500-square-foot facility inspired by the neighborhood’s historic Art Deco architecture and designed to serve residents of all ages.
When the branch opened on June 10, 2025, the community response exceeded expectations. More than 1,600 visitors attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house, demonstrating just how much excitement existed for a library in the heart of Latonia.
A remarkable first year
The numbers tell a powerful story:
• More than 80,000 items circulated
• More than 60,000 visitors welcomed
• More than 1,600 library cards issued to new users
• A collection that has grown from 15,000 to more than 26,000 items
Programming has been equally important to the branch’s success. During its first year, the Latonia Branch hosted more than 350 programs with attendance topping 8,000 participants.
From storytimes and youth activities to technology classes, wellness programs, educational workshops and community events, the branch has become much more than a place to borrow books. It has become a neighborhood hub where people gather to learn, connect and build community.
“Opening the Latonia Branch was a once-in-a-career opportunity for our team,” said Paul Duryea, Latonia branch manager. “Every day, we see students doing homework, families attending storytime, seniors gathering with friends and neighbors discovering something new. This building is filled with activity, but more importantly, it’s filled with people. The way the community has embraced this library over the past year has exceeded our expectations. We’re grateful to be part of the neighborhood’s story.”
Kenton County Public Library