The system includes two branches and is a member of the Chemeketa Cooperative Regional Library Service, which serves the Salem metropolitan area.

The library, located at the corner of State and Winter streets, opened on September 12, 1912.

[6] The downtown library was relocated to a larger building in the new civic center on July 6, 1972.

[7] The library was closed in December 1989 to begin a $5 million renovation,[8] which was completed on January 26, 1991, and added 35,000 square feet (3,300 m2) of space.

[11][12] The library moved to a larger, 5,400-square-foot (500 m2) facility at the Oak Hills Shopping Center on April 5, 1987.