KCPL surpasses visitor's anticipations at Latonia Branch inauguration; Wave on Wheels scheduled for June 28th
New Kenton County Public Library Branch Offers Wide Range of Services and Programs
The Kenton County Public Library's newest branch, the Lationia Branch, opened its doors on June 10, and since then, it has been a bustling hub of activity. Located at 3911 Winston Avenue in the Latonia Commerce Center in Covington, the branch is open for business and offering its services to the community.
The Lationia Branch is the library system's first branch located in a retail space, and it has been designed with a modern and welcoming atmosphere. In addition to providing a vast collection of books, the branch offers a variety of services and programs to support literacy, education, community engagement, and career development.
One of the unique services offered by the Lationia Branch is the large-format printer capable of producing banners, posters, and other oversized materials. This printer has already been put to good use, as the branch assisted a couple with printing their wedding program, seating chart, and table cards.
The Lationia Branch also offers a range of programs for children, including storytimes for young children such as Baby & Toddler Storytime and Preschool Storytime, which focus on early literacy through stories, songs, and movement activities. For older children, there are hands-on creative programs like Cardboard Engineering for tweens aged 9–12, which encourages design and engineering skills.
Adults can also take advantage of the extensive Career & Job Services offered by the Lationia Branch. These services include job search skills classes, resume help, LinkedIn photo sessions, computer classes covering Microsoft Word, YouTube, and Google tools, and device advice sessions. Additionally, the branch offers programs related to sustainability and gardening, such as workshops on permaculture principles.
The Lationia Branch also hosts various adult education, arts & crafts, author talks, book discussions, and movie events. Early feedback on the branch's programs and activities has been overwhelmingly positive.
By the end of the first week, 2,399 items had been borrowed from the new location, and more than 350 families have taken part in the popular penguin scavenger hunt throughout the building. The event is free and open to all ages, and it leads up to a visit from Newport Aquarium's Wave on Wheels, which will take place on Saturday, June 28, from 11 a.m. to noon.
The Lationia Branch is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Notary services are expected to be added at the Lationia Branch in the coming months.
Paul Duryea, the Lationia Branch Manager, mentioned that feedback from visitors has been positive, particularly about the branch's walkability to residents' homes. Dave Schroeder, executive director of the Kenton County Public Library, expressed gratitude for the community's support and the library staff's dedication.
For more information about the KCPL's new Lationia Branch, visit kentonlibrary.org.
