The Public Libraries Acts were adopted during a meeting of the Town Council on 5 June 1899 following a bequest of £500 by Mr John Edgar Stansfield.

The building, built and designed by the Borough Engineer William Newton, was opened on 18 January 1908 by Alderman T. E. Higham.

The design incorporates features which are standard in a Carnegie library, such as the raised entrance, the steps symbolising the reader's spiritual elevation.

A souvenir brochure was produced which highlights other features, including the large stained glass window by H. Gustave Hiller of Liverpool "which has been designed not only to be effective as a work of art but also to give light to the building".

It was acknowledged that there was a weakness in reference provision but it was hoped that the Library Committee would allocate enough funds each year to rectify this.