CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library has officially reopened the Oakley Branch Library after a 3-month renovation.
More than 650 community members attended the branch’s grand reopening on Saturday, December 20, with warm drinks and snacks from local vendors, an Oakley Branch history display, arts and crafts, face painting, balloon art, a photo booth, and a special Storytime featuring a visit from Santa. The celebration captured the excitement of what’s to come to the branch, a place for learning, connection, and community in the Oakley neighborhood.
The day began with a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring remarks from the Library’s Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Director Paula Brehm-Heeger, Library Board of Trustees President Christopher Harding, State Representative Ashley Bryant Bailey, and Oakley Branch Manager Edith Gillispie.
“Oakley’s library story goes back more than a century, operating as a deposit station in 1910. Today’s renovation adds a new chapter to that history but with fresh energy and possibilities,” said Eva Jane Romaine Coombe Director Paula Brehm-Heeger. “All of the updates to your Oakley Branch Library were shaped by community input and guided by the Library’s Facility Master Plan. The goal is simple: make sure your neighborhood library works beautifully for how you live, learn, and connect.”
The Oakley Branch renovations include a refreshed meeting room and an expanded children's area, a dedicated teen space with new furniture and finishes, and an improved mechanical and electrical system. The branch will also receive brand-new, upgraded holds lockers, which are scheduled to debut in 2026.
The project is part of the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library’s Facility Master Plan, a decade-long initiative to upgrade its facilities to serve not just today’s generation but also generations to come.
To learn more about the Oakley Branch Library project, visit: CHPL.org/next-generation/oakley.
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