The first library in Hamburg dates back to 1886 when the Hamburg School Library was founded. According to the Hamburg High School Review, written in 1903 by the Junior Class, the funding for this library was raised by exhibitions given by the school children. In 1890, that library was destroyed by fire. Many books were later sent to Hamburg to help rebuild the library, and a plan was adopted by which anyone who donated a dollar or a book was given the privilege of using the library. Many citizens responded, and thus the library became open to the public. The library was catalogued in 1899, and the volumes numbered 2,057, according to the librarian, Etta Hoke. Today the library houses approximately 10,000 books.