Described at the time of its completion as "a combination of the Doric and Ionian styles of architecture," the Salt Lake Public Library is a three story, rectangular gabled hip roof structure with a two story entrance pavilion constructed of oolite limestone from Sanpete County.

The Beaux-Arts building was designed by New York City architects Hines and LaFarge who designed the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.

Mining millionaire, John Q. Packard, donated the land and funded the building at the behest of the Ladies Literary Society.