An attempt to start a library in Kenton began in 1853, but over thirty years passed before one was actually begun.

An elevated foundation supports the rectangular structure,[2] which is accessed from the street by a staircase.

[4] With the opening of the library to all Hardin County residents in 1936 and the expansion of the city in general, the old facility had become too small for its patrons by the 1960s.

[6] In 1983, the Kenton Public Library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its place as an example of library building in Ohio,[2] its connection to Andrew Carnegie, and its well-preserved architecture.

[1] Media related to Kenton Public Library at Wikimedia Commons