A.K. Smiley Public Library

Serving the City of Redlands, California since 1894

Established in 1894, A.K. Smiley Public Library has served generations of patrons in the City of Redlands and beyond. The only “admission fee” is curiosity. Lifelong learning is at the center of activity in the beautiful, historic building and attractive grounds!

Support AKSPL

 

The Endowment Fund

A plan for you to give to the Smiley Library Endowment

For the Present

The Board of Trustees established an Endowment Fund in 1922 to increase the quality and breadth of financial holdings. Public response by gift and bequest has been gratifying. Today the trustees are able to augment Smiley Library’s collections and programming from the Endowment Fund for Adult Services, Children’s Services, and Special Collections.

Inquiries about existing or proposed endowment programs should be directed to the Office of the Library Director. You can help share the Smiley Library experience by sending your check or gift of securities to the Endowment Fund, A.K. Smiley Public Library. All contributions to the Endowment Fund, unless otherwise specified, are applied to the purchase of books and materials, or sponsorship of programs for the Library. Checks should be made payable to the A.K. Smiley Public Library Endowment Fund. Gifts are tax deductible to the full extent currently allowed by law.

Bequests

You might wish to make a bequest in your will or establish a charitable remainder trust for a designated amount to the Endowment Fund of Smiley Library. This ensures that your funding will have a perpetual role in the acquisitions or programming in the Library’s future. Your name will be listed as donor. A special organization for those who have included the Endowment Fund in their financial planning was established in 2002: The Kirke H. Field Society.

Gifts

If you wish to honor or memorialize a friend or relative with a gift to the Library for the purchase of a book, or make an unrestricted donation, the Smiley Library Gift Fund, operated by the Board of Trustees, is available for these purposes. Checks should be made payable to A.K. Smiley Public Library. Gifts are tax deductible to the full extent currently allowed by law.

Inquiries should be addressed to:

Director’s Office
A.K. Smiley Public Library
125 W Vine St Redlands, CA 92373
(909) 798-7565
(909) 798-7566 – Fax
admin@akspl.org – E-mail

The Kirke Hart Field Society

The Kirke H. Field Society was established in 2002 to honor the humanitarian and civic legacies of Kirke H. Field and those who help continue his work through their gifts. It recognizes individuals who have committed $10,000 or more in their wills or by estate planning for the enrichment of the educational work of A.K. Smiley Public Library.

The Kirke Hart Field Story

Public service and philanthropy defined the life of Kirke Hart Field. As a civic leader, he helped create many of the institutions which continue to shape the environment of Redlands today. He was, as one contemporary wrote, a “most pleasing exponent of the charms of the community.” As a young attorney, Field settled in Redlands in 1892. His tireless efforts on behalf of the people of Redlands began almost immediately. He was a charter member of the Fortnightly Club, board member of the Associated Charities, an officer of the Congregational Church, president of the Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade, and a driving force in the creation of the Lincoln Memorial Shrine. Field’s commitment to education was unwavering. He was an early president of the High School Board of Trustees, and a founder of the University of Redlands.

His name will always be associated with A.K. Smiley Public Library where he served as a member of the board of trustees for almost 40 years–the last 18 as president- until his death in 1936. He held a deep affection for the Library which he called “the people’s university.” He was instrumental in helping to create an endowment fund that has subsidized Library programs.

The society is sustained by member support through bequests or tax-advantaged donations. Such selfless acts of generosity work to rejuvenate the Redlands community that was so much a part of Kirke H. Field whom friends remembered as “the ideal of service and stewardship of life.”

For the Future

A plan for you to ensure future service, acquisitions, and programs.

Through careful gift planning, you may support the Library’s future while preserving your estate, as well as your financial security. You may also be able to increase your income during your lifetime. Several avenues, each of which provides a wonderful way to strengthen Smiley Library’s future, may be utilized to accomplish these goals.

Bequests are the most common planned gifts:

  • Specific bequests give a specified amount of money or a particular asset to the Library.
  • Residual bequests give the balance- or a percentage of the balance – of the estate to the Library.
  • Contingent bequests give the Library a portion of your estate designated for another person if that person dies before you.
  • Retained Life Income Gifts allow donors to give significant assets to the Library during their lifetimes, but to retain an income interest in the asset until their deaths. Such gifts include Gift Annuities, Pooled Income Fund Trusts, and Charitable Remainder Trusts. These gifts may be made with cash and marketable securities. In some cases, other assets such as real estate may also be used.
  • Charitable Lead Trusts provide the Library a stream of income from a donor’s asset for a period of years, after which the asset reverts to the donor or the donor’s heirs.
  • Retained Life Estate Gifts allow donors to give their homes to the Smiley Library now, but to continue to live in them and otherwise enjoy their benefits for life. The home may be a primary residence or a vacation home.

Donors may give fully paid, partially paid, or newly purchased Life Insurance policies to Smiley Library–and thus for modest investment make large gifts realized upon their deaths. Tax benefits vary depending on whether or not the policy is paid up.

For further information, inquiries should be made to:

Director’s Office
A.K. Smiley Public Library
125 W Vine St
Redlands, CA 92373

(909) 798-7565
(909) 798-7566- Fax
admin@akspl.org

Book, Music, and Video Donation Policy

A.K. Smiley Public Library accepts donations of gently used books, DVDs and CDs

  • Donation drop-off hours will be Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm, with the exception of when the library is closed for holidays.
  • Please limit donations to 4 bags/boxes per day. If you have more than 4 bags/boxes please call Smiley Library (909) 798-7565 to see if special accommodations can be arranged.
  • Staff is unable to assist with unloading donations.
  • Ring the doorbell at the library’s delivery door located on Eureka Street and a cart will be provided.
  • Smaller donations may be placed in the donation bin located outside the library’s delivery door located on Eureka Street.

 

Friends of the Library

The Friends of A.K. Smiley Public Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to providing funds to augment library collections, support infrastructure needs and to support programing for children and the community.

Funds are raised through the sale of books, DVD’s, and CD’s in the Friends Bookstore on the lower level of the library, the Silent Auction and through special sales throughout the year. The donation of books and digital media by the community enable the Friends to continue this support.

The Friends welcome volunteers to help in the Bookstore, Silent Auction and special sales events.

The most up to date information about the Friends can be found on their website Friends of A.K. Smiley Public Library or you can email the Friends at folsmiley@gmail.com with questions about volunteering or donations.