[2] There was an effort by study clubs in town in 1898 to raise money and establish a free public library.

The Chariton Federation of Women's Clubs took the lead and opened a library with the books from the courthouse in two rooms above Gibbons Drug Store on the town square.

The Neoclassical style building is a single-story structure of dark brown rock-faced brick with Bedford stone trim.

[2] In 1993 the Mason City, Iowa architectural firm of Bergland & Cram designed an addition that was added to the rear of the building.

This article about a property in Lucas County, Iowa on the National Register of Historic Places is a stub.