Latonia will soon be home to the newest branch of the Kenton County Library.
On Tuesday, the Kenton County Fiscal Court permitted the Kenton County Library Board to execute its plan of opening a new branch inside the Latonia Commerce Center off Winston Avenue. The Kenton County Board of Trustees approved plans for a new branch on Oct. 17.
“This is a concrete way the library would like to respond to give more support to those children in need, particularly in the neighborhood and surrounding neighborhoods,” Kenton County Library Board Executive Director Dave Schroeder said at the meeting.
The library is expected to be open in summer 2024 and will be the smallest branch of the Kenton County Library just behind Independence, Schroeder said. The Kenton County Library signed a ten-year lease in the space, which is 11,500 square feet.
“We thought it was very cost-effective and with a ten year lease, it spreads out the cost to the point where we can make decisions over time as to whether we need something big or something more permanent or if we’re going to just stay where we are,” Schroeder said.
Library officials anticipate the space will feature a large meeting room, multiple small study rooms, children’s, teen and adult areas, and a comprehensive collection of materials. It will also include all movable furniture and shelving to make interior reorganization easier.
The branch will be able to serve five schools in the immediate area: Latonia Elementary, Ninth District Elementary, St. Anthony Elementary, Holy Cross High School, and Holy Cross Elementary.
Additionally, the new branch will be located along a TANK bus line, giving it direct access to public transportation.
The Kenton County Library had to seek approval from the Fiscal Court due to the passing of Senate Bill 167. The law requires the unanimous approval of the library board and fiscal court for the leasing or constructing of buildings by educational institutions or libraries in capital projects that exceed $500,000 in cost. Schroeder said the project is expected to cost over $1 million.
Schroeder cited the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library, Louisville Free Public Library and Lexington Public Library as library systems that have successfully utilized leasing preexisting space to expand their footprint. Leasing preexisting space lowers costs because it doesn’t require the library to construct a new brick-and-mortar location, he said.
The Kenton County Public Library currently has three branches: Covington, Erlanger and Independence.
