The Gays Mills Public Library has roots in the village dating back to 1941. With a $10 investment by the Womens Literary Club and a great deal of their love and attention, the library grew from its humble origins to the thriving entity it currently is. Due to fire and flood and just plain old growth the library has occupied several locations on Main Street. In 1990 the library moved into its current location at 205 Main St. The library has grown from a few books in the corner of the Jameson Store to its current collection of 6000 titles including 350 videos, 275 books on tape or CD and 35 magazine subscriptions.

In 1968 the library joined the Southwest Wisconsin Library System (SWLS) and has enjoyed a fruitful relationship as a member of the 27 libraries that make up SWLS. Membership with SWLS provides patrons with access to materials from all over Wisconsin through WISCAT (Wisconsin on-line catalog of library holdings) and to speedy delivery of those materials through the van delivery system. SWLS also maintains and supports the shared catalog and circulation system of most of the 27 member libraries.

Although it was many years after the humble origins of the library that a mission statement was developed, the actions of its founding members, past librarians, supporters and users are the foundation on which the mission statement was developed.

The Gays Mills Public Library strives to provide access to a variety of materials that enrich personal life, and fulfill the informational, cultural and leisure needs of people in our communities.