Settled by pioneers in 1795, Beavercreek officially began as a township in 1803. The first library service in Beavercreek was during the nineteen twenties when collections of books were placed in schools and local businesses by the Greene County District Library. Later on, bookmobile service was provided. By the nineteen fifties, it had become apparent that a bookmobile was inadequate to meet the needs of Beavercreek's rapidly growing population.

As is many other small towns, public library service in Cedarville arrived through the generosity of Andrew Carnegie. Built in 1907, the Library was owned by the Cedarville College and jointly managed by the Cedarville Township Trustees and the College; the original Carnegie Library still stands on North Main Street near Cedarville University. The library's collection served both College students and the general public. In 1937, Greene County Public Library assumed management of the Cedarville Library and contributions from local citizens refurbished the building.

Fairborn’s library opened for business in Gilbert R. Campbell’s barbershop at 2 West Main Street on April 11, 1929, with a collection of 500 books. Mr. Campbell served as the librarian for only a brief time; in June of the same year he was replaced by Mrs. Foster F. Rhodes. By 1930 the busy library had earned second place in circulation among the country’s district libraries, with a circulation of 7,571.

The first Jamestown Library was located in the Jamestown High School building with an agreement between the Greene County Library and the Board of Education, whereby Jamestown provided the building, the library Board provided the books, and the school took care of of circulation.

The tradition of library services in Bellbrook had roots in the early 1900's. The building, which dates back to 1901, is located in Bellbrook's Old Village and has offered library services to the community since 1906.

Library service in Xenia began with the organization of the Young Women’s Library Association in 1878. On September 1, 1899, the first free public library in Greene County opened in Xenia. The Carnegie Library building on Church Street opened in 1906, with a major renovation in 1934. The current building on Market Street opened in 1978. Two major renovations have accommodated growth in service and changing needs. The most recent renovation, completed in the summer of 2001, allowed reallocation of space to provide new areas for public use such as the children’s story room, a study room, and a computer training lab.

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF THE YELLOW SPRINGS LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
Compiled through 2001 by Amy Harper

Copyright May 2001 Yellow Springs Library Association

The year was 1899, the place Yellow Springs, and the women in the Social Culture Club were on a mission. They wanted to encourage people, and especially young people, to read. But there was no place to do that. The school libraries were inadequate, and the Antioch College library was closed to the public. What Yellow Springs needed, felt the Social Culture Club, was a public reading room. So, "with no funds at hand buy only an abiding faith that what should be could be," the club, according to a 1935 history, "undertook to supply that need."