Mrs. Katherine S. Temple of Texarkana gave $10,000 as an initial fund. The Pineland Service Club contributed over $14,000 from its proceeds from Pineland Day in 1965. Sizeable amounts were also given by others of the Temple family and the Temple Foundation. Citizens of the town also contributed to the cause. Under Title II of the Library Services and Construction Act, a grant was approved for matching funds for the library.

The site was chosen on Timberland Highway. The building was completed in the spring of 1969. In 1971, the Payne Meeting Room was built. In 1995, the library expanded and renovated to better serve the growing needs of the patrons.

It was originally named TLL Temple Memorial Library for the founder of Temple Industries, Inc. In 1971, the name of the library was changed to Arthur Temple Senior Memorial Library so that as not to be confused with its sister library in Diboll. The library started out with over 300 volumes and now has over 20,000 volumes. Over the past 35 years, the Arthur Temple Senior Memorial Library has been home to 5 different librarians. Donna Nichols proudly serves as the current librarian.