The library was founded in 1859 by a committee of leading citizens, initially renting space near the intersection of Main Street and Montvale Avenue.

This resulted in the 1904 construction of the modest Classical Revival building that forms the heart of the library complex at Maple and Main Streets.

As originally built, this was a single story building made of Roman brick, and capped by a hip roof.

[2] In 1931 this building was extended from three to five bays, and a cupola was added thanks to a trust fund left to the library by Annie Hamilton Brown.

[3] The library's services, in addition to its circulating book collection, include access to online databases.