A.K. Smiley Public Library
🏢 A.K. Smiley Public Library · Redlands, California
A.K. Smiley Public Library
Built in 1898 by philanthropist Albert K. Smiley and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this Moorish Revival landmark in Smiley Park houses a century of Heritage Room archives — and sits steps from the Lincoln Memorial Shrine, the West's only research archive dedicated to Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10am–6pm |
| Tuesday | 10am–9pm |
| Wednesday | 10am–9pm |
| Thursday | 10am–6pm |
| Friday | 10am–5pm |
| Saturday | 10am–5pm |
| Sunday | 1pm–5pm |
Hours may vary on holidays; check the library site before visiting.
📍 Location, Contact & Directions
Address: 125 W. Vine Street, Redlands, CA 92373
Phone: (909) 798-7565
Website: akspl.org
Plus Code: 85643R38+QF (Redlands, CA)
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📖 About A.K. Smiley Public Library
Dedicated on April 29, 1898, the A.K. Smiley Public Library is one of California's oldest continuously operating public libraries and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (1976) and designated a California Historical Landmark (1990). Philanthropist Albert K. Smiley donated the land and building — spending over $60,000, including $40,000 he personally borrowed — so that Redlands would have both a public library and a downtown park. Architect T.R. Griffith designed the structure in a blend of Moorish and Mission Revival styles, a design so distinctive it has been described using at least five different architectural labels. The library underwent its largest expansion in 1990 ($4.1 million) and received exterior restoration to its original Moorish character in 2002. On the grounds behind the library stands the Lincoln Memorial Shrine, built in 1932 by philanthropist Robert Watchorn — the only museum and research archive west of the Mississippi River dedicated solely to Abraham Lincoln and the American Civil War.
⭐ What makes this library special
- National Register of Historic Places (1976) and California Historical Landmark (1990) — a Moorish/Mission Revival building by architect T.R. Griffith, continuously serving Redlands since 1898
- Lincoln Memorial Shrine on the grounds: the only museum and Civil War research archive west of the Mississippi dedicated to Abraham Lincoln, with a 1922 George Grey Barnard Lincoln bust and a 1945 Norman Rockwell painting; free admission, Tue–Sun 1–5pm
- Heritage Room (Tue–Sat 10am–5pm): rare maps from the 1850s, the 1910 Carnegie Indian Collection on California Native tribes, citrus industry records, thousands of historic photographs, 100+ oral histories, and the Redlands Daily Facts newspaper run
- Redlands Adult Literacy Program: free, confidential one-on-one tutoring in reading and writing for adults 16+, plus a Family Literacy track for parents with young children
- Extensive digital library: Libby/OverDrive, Kanopy (30,000+ films), Freegal Music, Ancestry Library Edition, Mango Languages, and 40+ Gale, ProQuest, and NewsBank databases — all free with a library card
📱 Digital Resources — Free with Your Library Card
Redlands cardholders stream, download and research free with these digital resources:
📚 Services
- Book and media lending (physical collection of 173,000+ volumes)
- Online catalog and account management at aksmil.ent.sirsi.net
- Public computers and free Wi-Fi
- Heritage Room research appointments (walk-ins welcome; appointments encouraged; Tue–Sat 10am–5pm, closed noon–1pm; phone 909-798-7632)
- Lincoln Memorial Shrine tours (Tue–Sun 1–5pm; free admission; phone 909-798-7636)
- Youth Services / Young Readers' Room (preschool–grade 8; phone 909-798-7674)
- Teen Underground programming
- Redlands Adult Literacy Program — free one-on-one tutoring (phone 909-798-7565 ext. 7377)
- Family Literacy Program for enrolled adult learners with preschool–elementary-aged children
- Meeting room rentals
- Interlibrary loan
🎸 Programs
- Adult Literacy tutoring — 1.5-hour weekly sessions with trained volunteer tutors, minimum 6-month commitment
- Family Literacy Program — literacy strategies for parents with young children
- Youth storytimes and year-round children's programs in the Young Readers' Room
- Teen Underground book reviews and teen programming
- Our Stories literacy anthology — adult learners publish their own writing
- Home Movie Preservation Project — Heritage Room digitizes 8mm/16mm/Super 8 films
- Redlands Community History Initiative — documenting underrepresented community narratives
📍 Nearby Libraries in Southern California
Distances are approximate straight-line miles from this library.
All libraries in Redlands · Browse all California libraries →
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Lincoln Memorial Shrine, and is it part of the library?
The Lincoln Memorial Shrine is a free museum and research archive located on the library grounds behind the main building. Built in 1932 by Redlands philanthropist Robert Watchorn, it is the only institution west of the Mississippi River dedicated solely to Abraham Lincoln and the American Civil War. Its collection includes a 1922 George Grey Barnard Lincoln bust and a 1945 Norman Rockwell painting. The Shrine tripled in size when two wings were added in 1998. The library's Special Collections division stewards the Shrine's research holdings. Admission is free; hours are Tuesday–Sunday, 1:00–5:00pm (call 909-798-7636).
Who was Albert K. Smiley, and why is the library named after him?
Albert K. Smiley was a wealthy East Coast philanthropist and winter resident of Redlands who donated the land and financed the construction of the library and Smiley Park, spending over $60,000 — including $40,000 he personally borrowed. The building was dedicated on April 29, 1898. Albert Smiley had no connection to Andrew Carnegie's library grant program; the Smiley Library was a purely private donation in the spirit of civic philanthropy.
What can I research in the Heritage Room?
The Heritage Room (Tue–Sat, 10am–5pm; closed noon–1pm) is the library's special collections research center. It holds rare maps dating to the 1850s, the 1910 Carnegie Indian Collection on California Native tribes, thousands of historic photographs, original citrus-industry records and labels, over 100 oral histories of community members, newspapers including the Redlands Daily Facts and The Citrograph from the 1860s, and Civil War and Lincoln materials linked to the Memorial Shrine. Walk-ins welcome, but appointments are encouraged. Pencils only — no pens.
Is the library building itself historically protected?
Yes. The library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on December 12, 1976 (NRHP #76000513) and designated a California Historical Landmark on August 17, 1990 (CHISL #994). Architect T.R. Griffith designed the 1898 building in a blend of Moorish and Mission Revival styles. A $4.1 million expansion in 1990 added significant space, and a 2002 exterior restoration returned the building to its original Moorish appearance.
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