Kenton County Public Library announced it will hand out limited-edition library cards designed by Grammy-winning musician Laufey (pronounced lay-vay) starting Sept. 1, giving local fans a collectible reason to sign up or refresh their library card.
The cards are available first-come, first-served at all three KCPL branches (Erlanger, Covington and Independence) while supplies last. The library ordered a limited number per location but has not disclosed the exact count. KCPL serves residents across Kenton County, including Fort Mitchell, Crestview Hills, Edgewood, Villa Hills and surrounding communities.
Both new patrons and existing cardholders can request the Laufey design. There's one catch: the cards are working library cards, not standalone collectibles. Patrons must either sign up for a new account or already hold a valid KCPL card to get one.
A pilot that broke records
KCPL's participation is part of a nationwide collaboration between the American Library Association and Laufey, who serves as the 2026 honorary chair of Library Card Sign-up Month. The Icelandic-Chinese singer-songwriter, cellist and two-time Grammy winner reaches more than 20 million monthly listeners on Spotify and founded the Laufey Book Club in 2022, building a global community of fans who share her love of reading.
Last year, Laufey piloted collaborative library cards in five markets — LA County, Boston, Phoenix, Fulton County/Atlanta and Reykjavík — breaking single-day sign-up records in most of those cities, according to BroadwayWorld. This year the initiative expanded to more than 50 libraries worldwide, with KCPL among them.
The card launch ties into "A Very Laufey Day," the fourth annual celebration taking place Sunday, Aug. 23, spanning more than 75 cities across 25 countries with arts-themed programming at concert halls, libraries, museums and bookstores.
What the card gets you
The library noted that a KCPL card connects patrons to eBooks, audiobooks, educational and career resources, the STREAM Center for hands-on technology and creative learning, and other community services.
The promotion arrives as Kenton County residents face a separate library shift: as we reported Aug. 21, free access to Cincinnati's public library system will end for county cardholders in January.
Coming up
- Tuesday, Sept. 1: Limited-edition Laufey library cards available at all KCPL branches (first-come, first-served)
- September 2026: Library Card Sign-up Month at KCPL and libraries nationwide
