It is one of twelve libraries in the GMILCS consortium (Greater Manchester Integrated Library Consortial System) that provides materials and services to the greater Manchester area,[1] and is on the U.S. Department of Interior's National Register of Historic Places, listed under the Victory Park Historic District as a contributing property,[2] one of the four buildings that face the park.

It has continuously provided materials in various formats (print, digital, and multimedia), as well as vital services to the public, including internet access, literacy programs, community events, and educational workshops and classes.

The idea of a free public library for Manchester was first proposed in 1854 by Mayor-Elect Frederick Smyth during his inaugural speech.

[6] With a steadily growing population after its opening, the library was doing extremely well, building its collection up to 3,000 books, until tragedy struck in 1856 on the morning of February 5.

A fire originating from the printing press in the basement of the building completely destroyed the library with the exception of 600 items (including those that were checked out).

[5] Only ministers and teachers could browse the stacks as they pleased, but they still needed a librarian to retrieve any requested items for them, due to fragile step ladders.

Although patrons enjoyed this new addition, it caused some issues for staff as the number of missing items increased dramatically within one year.

Eventually, that same year, the library was rearranged and classified by the Cutter Expansive Classification system, which grouped the books together by subject, and the number assigned to each remained permanent.

Last, but not least, one of the most troublesome issues faced occurred in 1908, when there was an infestation of termites in many books, documents, and even the oak posts of the building.

Ground was broken in September 1912,[6] and the cornerstone, a five-ton block of Concord granite coming from the same quarry that supplied the Library of Congress, was laid by Carpenter on June 11, 1913.

[6] Within the stone was a copper receptable that served as a time capsule; it held records, newspapers, coins, clothes manufactured in Manchester, and other historical items.

[4] They incorporated Concord granite, Botticino and Lastavena marble, as well as oak woodwork, brick, concrete, plaster, and steel beams into the construction, as well as a beautiful skylight dome in its rotunda.

The 42,000-square-foot (3,900 m2) building, which still serves the population of Manchester, was officially dedicated on November 18, 1914, in front of a crowd of more than 5,000 people,[5][7] and could now accommodate more than 300,000 materials.

Thomas Chalmers, D.D., a main address by Samuel D. Felker (then governor of New Hampshire), and a dedicatory oration by Rev.

[9] During World War II while there was increased patronage, the library held a "Victory Book Campaign" and collected donations from the community to ship to the armed forces overseas.

It also includes microfilm of federal census records for New Hampshire, as well as popular local and regional newspapers dating back to the mid-1800s.

[12] The branch, which is located next to Manchester High School West, opened in 1980, and then closed in 2015 due to a major flood.