[1] The library was administered by the Borough of Rawtenstall until Local Government reorganisation in 1974 since when it has been managed by Lancashire County Council.

David Whitehead, a local mill owner and entrepreneur became the president and in 1886 the Rawtenstall Co-operative Society also established a library.

[2] On 11 July 1902 a letter from Andrew Carnegie was read out at a meeting of Rawtenstall Borough Council offering £6000 towards the building of a new library.

The design of the building was opened up to competition and out of the twenty two that were submitted the Free Library Committee chose one from Messrs Crouch, Butler and Savage of Birmingham.

[4] When the library was officially opened on 1 June 1907 Andrew Carnegie himself attended the event along with local dignitaries and the MP Lewis Harcourt.