The library is a memorial to local business owner William Gove Bixby, who bequeathed the funds to build it.

At the dedication, President John M. Thomas of Middlebury College said:“The free public library is one of our great modern democratic institutions.

In addition to providing materials for circulation and places for quiet reading or study, the library was a community center.

During World War I, the basement rooms were used by the Red Cross and, thereafter, were available to local residents for rest and relaxation from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily.

By the tenth anniversary celebration on October 5, 1922, an annual circulation exceeding 30,000 was reported, a figure that increased to 39,903 in 1931.