Public Library, 2 Main Street, Bothwell

The building is a public library, dating to around 1910, with later alterations and additions. It is a single-story structure with an attic, presenting an asymmetrical 3-bay design. A Dutch gable is on the right, featuring the inscription 'DONALD INSTITUTE' below it, and a projecting square bay is on the left. The facade is primarily of stugged red sandstone ashlar, with polished squared stone for the bay and dressings; the rear and parts of the sides are harled. An apron sits below the ground floor window, and a cornice runs along the squared block. The window to the right is framed by pilasters and a cornice, incorporating a carved frieze above, while stop pilasters with truncated obelisk finials mark the upper angles of the Dutch gable.

The west (principal) elevation has a low-sloping roof over the central entrance, now with a modern surround at ground level. Steps lead to a two-leaf timber panelled door, beyond which is a partially glazed vestibule door. A square dormer window sits above the entrance. Three-light windows are in the projecting square bay to the left, with a canted, four-light dormer window above. A large window is in the gabled bay to the right.

The north (side) elevation is irregular, with six bays grouped as 4-1-1, featuring a blank gable and a full-height stack to the left. The central four-bay block includes a replacement timber door with a three-light rectangular fanlight at ground level, to the left of centre, and a high-set window above. Windows are present on each floor of the bays to the left, and on each floor of each remaining bay. A wide bay to the right features a semicircular pediment and a wallhead stack, with a window at each floor. A bipartite window is at ground level in the remaining bay to the far right.

The south (side) elevation is composed of two bays, with a blank gable at the outer right. Projecting three-light windows are evenly spaced in each bay.

The east (rear) elevation has two bays, each with a three-light projecting window.

The roof is covered in grey slate, with a piended dormer to the left; a stone-coped stack is at the northwest angle; stone-coped skews and copes are on the Dutch gable and pediment; and the building has cast-iron rainwater goods.

Inside, the library features timber skirtings, architraved and timber panelled doors, and part-glazed, two-leaf swing vestibule doors. A circular skylight is in the entrance hall, the main hall has a cornice and picture rail, and a boarded dado is present.

Tall, square-plan, channelled red sandstone ashlar gatepiers, with dentilled cornices and truncated obelisk caps, stand adjacent to the main entrance on the north side, accompanied by replacement wrought-iron gates. Low sandstone ashlar walls support decorative wrought-iron railings (now partially obscured by a hedge).