Rumor has it that one of the first libraries in Butler County was organized in Augusta by Mary Ellen Haines. A glass-fronted walnut bookcase housed seventy-five of Mary Ellen's books.

The bookcase travelled through local homes and businesses into the early 1900s when the Outlook Club decided to look for a permanent residence for the library. Each member bought a book annually to expand the collection and they raised funds in the community. Through the efforts and campaigning the citizens of Augusta voted for a tax-supported library

From a travelling bookcase of seventy-five books, the library has grown to a collection of over 30,000 items.