[1] The first municipal building was an early tolbooth which was commissioned on the orders of King James VI and was completed in 1627.

The outer bays, which were single storey, featured round headed openings with voussoirs and, at roof level there was a cupola.

The improvements, which were undertaken to a design by John Douglas, included the replacement of the cupola with an octagonal belfry and steeple.

[8][9] An extensive programme of refurbishment works, which involved the installation of a lift, the relocation of the library onto the first floor and the creation of a customer service point, was completed in August 2014.

[10] A roll of honour recording the 85 local service personnel who had served in the First World War was restored and mounted in the library in time for the re-opening.