Class libraries do not have configuration

Why is that?

If one takes the time to think about it, class libraries only ever execute in the context of an application – a web application, a console application, a unit test runner or some other executable.

A class library gets loaded into the memory space of the application and gets called and executed there.

It makes sense then that the executing application should be the one deciding on how to configure a class library it is using, rather than the other way around.

The .NET framework configuration subsystem subscribes to this idea – when using the System.Configuration namespace, the application configuration file will be the one queried, even if there is a configuration file matching the dll name.

I would add that configuration should be treated as a dependency – the values should be injected into any class or method that required them – read the excellent blog by Paul Hiles – Configuration Settings Are A Dependency That Should Be Injected.