David Estes

Review of A.K. Smiley Library & Archives

Best library you will visit in the entire area! Co...

Best library you will visit in the entire area! Come in, look around, be amazed by the beauty of the building's interior as well as exterior. It's worth it just for that. The Young Reader's Room is the gem of the facility (excluding special collections and Lincoln Shrine). My children grew up in this place, and it is one of the reasons we moved to Redlands. Special programs for kids and adults are now regularly held in the adjacent Contemporary Club that was recently painted to match the library. Win-win for both facilities!
The only downsides are reduced hours (should be open till 9pm every day!) and limited money for new books. Books are bought from Friends of the Library funds, not city general funds. It's a shame Redlands can't fully fund it's most important resource. Parking in front can be limited, but nearby parking via a short walk is readily available. Be aware that bikes are stolen from the bike racks regularly. Don't lock up with a cable lock, use a U-lock. At times the library is a bit of a homeless day-care center as well. That's an on-going city concern, not specific to the library.
Non-residents can use the facility, but to check out material they will need to pay an annual fee for a library card. Local property taxes pay for the facility and staff, so Redlands residents are already paying a similar fee annually. Non-residents are simply being asked to pay the same that residents already are.
Centrally located near downtown, coming to Redlands for a library visit alone is worth the drive. Shame on any Redlands residents that don't come in here regularly... this is the reason you live here! Support the library and don't complain about city taxes being too high: This is the best thing they can be used for!