The building, completed in 1911, was designed by the firm of Claude and Starck and funded with $17,500 from the Carnegie Corporation.

Prior to the construction of its own building in 1964, the library was housed at Merrill City Hall.

The project includes 79 solar collectors, made in the U.S. and featuring a 25-year warranty.

The solar array is located on the south and south-west sides of the roof of the library's 2001 addition.

There is a learning kiosk located in the library's lobby level where the public, in real-time, can track the solar project's performance and the library's overall energy usage, providing a valuable educational component.