In 1934, only three Ingham County communities had free libraries - Lansing, East Lansing, and Mason. By 1936, there were eight libraries in communities across the county with the addition of Holt, Haslett, Okemos, Webberville, Leslie, and South Lansing (Everett). This increase was thanks to the Ingham County Library system founded by the Ingham County Federation of Women’s Clubs with support of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) during the Great Depression. The system was originally set up to put people to work mending books in school libraries, but quickly evolved and Ingham was one of sixteen counties chosen as a pilot program for the branch library development. The system was also created with the aid of the extension service of the Michigan State Library and each branch was founded with a “traveling library” loan from the State Library. Each community library was called a station and operated independently, but was a part of the greater organization.

The Ingham County Library system was formally created in 1938 and headquartered at the newly built Hall Memorial Library in Mason, where the librarian oversaw all county libraries operating as part of this network. All the libraries under this umbrella shared a foundational book collection and a monthly exchange between “stations” (or branches) brought new titles into each community over time. As the years went by each station developed their own collection of books and material through donations. The “Bookmobile” was introduced by the county system in 1948.

The Holt Library, founded in 1936, was sponsored by the Holt Child Study Club and the Works Progress Administration (WPA). The library was located in the Delhi Township Hall on Cedar Street, adjoining the Fire Department. Barbara Earl was the early librarian and the operation of the library was stipulated by the number of books circulated. More than 20 books per hour had to be checked out to warrant an expansion of the branch operations. In the early years, many afternoons saw more than 115 books checked out. The library continued to grow dramatically, increasing circulation, surpassing 1,500 volumes, and adding days of operation. Locals left funds in their wills and books and magazines were regularly donated to the library.

Holt’s branch continued operating out of the Township Hall until 1970. When the Holt United Methodist Church completed its new building in 1969, the old 1894 church building at the five corners (Cedar, Aurelius, and Keller) was converted into the “new” Holt Library and given for five years by the church for use as a library. This project was thanks to vast community cooperation, headed up by the Holt Jaycees which made the renovations over 800-hours of labor. The Holt Kiwanis Club, Lions Club, and others made generous contributions to the project. The Holt Library opened its new location in September 1970. Mrs. Alex Neimi was the librarian at this time.

The library remained in the old Methodist Church, funded by Delhi Township, through 1979. In 1978, Lansing area developer Francis Fine offered Delhi Township the former Rollen Sanderson home on Holt Road for use as a library. Delhi Township Supervisor Billie Dowell accepted the offer and the building was donated by Fine and Southfield-based developer Amurcon Corp. The house was slated for demolition as it sat in front of the developers’ new high rise apartment complex - Tamarack.

Delhi Township Trustee Paul Goulet spearheaded the efforts to convert the house into a library. This would mark the first time the Holt Library had a barrier free building with public restroom and handicapped accessibility. Goulet raised the funds and organized labor donations to make a major westerly addition to the house. It was a two year project which was completed in 1980. The Holt-Delhi Branch of the Ingham County Library System moved into its new facility at 4410 W. Holt Road in May 1980. The library remained in this building through 1996, when it removed to its current location.

When Delhi Township built a new Community Services Center in the mid-1990s, it was slated to house every piece of Township government - offices of the clerk, treasurer, parks department, police, fire department, and the library. The Holt-Delhi Branch again moved into the new building at 2074 Aurelius Road in 1996.

A proposal to merge the Ingham County Library System and Lansing Public Library to form a new district library system was presented in 1997. Voters took the polls and approved the merger and a funding source of a district-wide millage from tax dollars. The merger was official in January 1998, forming the Capital Area District Libraries (CADL). The Holt-Delhi Branch of the Ingham County Library System became the Holt-Delhi Branch of CADL, as it remains today.