The history of the library began under the trusteeship of Phineas P. Whitehouse, Joseph J. J. Sawyer and Franacis A.E. Jewell. These were highly respected townspeople whose names appear repeatedly in town records: Mr. Sawyer was a selectman Mr. Jewell was an auditor, and Mr. Whitehouse had been Town Clerk a few years prior. They chose Miss Eva Carr as the first librarian. The library was a great success at the start with circulation reaching 1523 across 126 subscribers in the first year of its operation in 1893.

Over the next several decades, the library appropriations, circulation and readership had experienced ebbs and flows. At different times of its 130+ year history, the library faced and overcame various challenges including the need to upgrade the collection to a greater proportion of non-fiction, hire and have the financial means to retain a professional librarian, and improve the physical library facilities.

A more comprehensive history of the South Hampton Public Library written by Marise Fraser and Ruth Miller is held at the library and can be reviewed on premises at request.