In 1893, the Ladies Literary Society of Paulding assessed themselves $2.00 each to start a circulating library. Standard books were purchased and kept at the residence of the librarian, Mrs. Wm J. Wheeler. Books were offered to the public upon payment of 5 cents per volume per week. With this money, more books were purchased. The library was in various places, in homes, above downtown stores, and in a Main Street storefront.
In 1903, the Federation of Literary Societies of Paulding met to enlist the public in obtaining a public library. From this meeting, the Public Library Association was organized with 600 books on the shelves.
In 1913, Rebecca S. Latty, widow of Alexander Sankey Latty donated 4 lots on South Main Street and an extended piece of land that stretched to the center of Flat Rock Creek, including the section called “Old Tail Race.” In the same year, through the efforts of Mr. C. H. Allen of Paulding, Mr. Andrew Carnegie gave $40, 000 to build a library. This was the first library in the United States funded by Andrew Carnegie to serve an entire county.
The new library was open for business on March 3, 1916, with 4000 books. The building was constructed of fireproof and slow burning materials, French gray pressed brick and Indiana Bedford stone with a green tile roof. Architects were Howard and Merriam of Columbus, Ohio. These architects also designed the Hayes Presidential Library in Fremont, Ohio.
The library was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1985. In 2003 the library received an Ohio Bicentennial Historical marker in recognition of it being the first county library funded by the Andrew Carnegie.
The Paulding County Carnegie Library system consists of the historic Carnegie library in Paulding, branch libraries in the villages of Antwerp, Oakwood, and Payne; and county-wide bookmobile service which was established in 2011. The library team is dedicated to providing the highest quality library services for this 21st-century library.