On January 2, 1897, the Plaistow Public Library officially opened to the public with a core collection of 267 books. The Library was open one day a week and the budget for the first year of operation was $114.48.

The goal of the Plaistow Public Library was to provide the town of Plaistow with a proper and fitting library that would meet the demands of all its patrons. That goal is still in place today, over 100 years later.