The Griggs County Library started with the attempts to establish a library service in Cooperstown when the town was founded. Its collections were from early homes that contain reading rooms. The State Library sent out some traveling library collections for circulation. The Congregational Church had such collection in 1926. For some time, a small lending library was maintained by the Evangelical Lutheran. This became the permanent collection that included donated books.

The library soon grew and it needed money to maintain its operation. The library then requested an operating mill levy from the city in 1964 and it was granted. After several more applications and grant approvals, the library soon became stable. In 1998, the library was able to keep up with modern times as it began to circulate and process its materials using a computerized system.