George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll laid the foundation stone for the new library on 25 August 1897. Such was the significance of the event that a public holiday was declared in the burgh, and the
steamer Culzean Castle brought 1,000 excursionists from Dunoon, Rothesay, Largs, Fairlie and other towns along the coast. The building was designed by the architect
John James Burnet The library was donated by Mr James MacAlister Hall of Tangy and Killean, and in return he was awarded the freedom of the burgh. He also provided an endowment of £3,000 () for the maintenance of the library, payment of salaries and acquisition of books. It opened on 27 January 1899 and comprises a frontage to the bay of and on St John Street of . The buildings are divided into a library of by with a capacity of 10,000 books, a ladies’ reading room of by , a general reading room of by ,a museum and picture gallery of by , and a news room of by . The building includes a garden for the display of archaeological exhibits not requiring cover. A caretaker’s house with a frontage on Shore Street was also provided. The site occupies 1450 square yards. In 1991 following a nomination by Kintyre Civic Society the building was floodlit by McKinlay & Blair Ltd with the lantern cupola lit from the inside like a lantern. In 1993 the museum was the victim of a burglary in which the entire coin collection, guns, five medals and a sword were taken. ==Museum==