The first library in Mason City was established in 1871. It was not open to the public since it was a subscription library where only paid subscribers could check out books. In 1888, a second library opened as a reading room. In 1891, the citizens of Mason city voted to levy a one mill property tax to support a free library that would be opened to the public. This library was at first located on South Federal, moving to East State Street in 1893.

When the library on East State Street burned, another one was established in a home owned by owned by D.M. Tiffany, also located on East State Street.

Mason City's Public Library was built with a $20,000 Carnegie Grant which was awarded on April 11, 1902. The Tiffany home was demolished and a new Carnegie library was build on that site. The building was dedicated on January 10, 1905.

By the late 1930's Mason City had outgrown its Carnegie Library. Originally the plan was to apply for a federal grant from the Public Works Administration (PWA) to add an extension to the library. The MacNider family, however, offered seven acres of property on Second and Pennsylvania Avenues to build a new library. The corner stone was laid in 1939 and the new library, located at 225 2nd St. SE, opened to the public in January of 1940.

Mason City's Public Library building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 25, 1989.

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1940 Library