OUR PURPOSE

The Library of Avalon is an Educational Charity (Charity No. 1065014) which provides resources for learning and research into Esoteric Knowledge.

This includes:

• A collection of many thousands of esoteric books, research papers, pamphlets, magazines, as well as some audio and video recordings available for the public to use on our premises and for our local members to borrow.
• A Public Reading Room where our members and the public can study our materials, as well as attend and give talks, courses, workshops, meetings, consultations, games evenings, book launches, etc.
• Internet Communication Facilities which can be used to broadcast events from the Reading Room or allow the participation of an audience in webinars hosted elsewhere.

About The Library

The Library of Avalon is, to its Trustees’ knowledge, the only publicly-accessible esoteric library in the UK, perhaps even in Europe, but is not the only one in the world – there is a similar organisation in America.

Our library is supported entirely by donations and by the subscriptions of its borrowing members.

A public reading-room is provided for the use of non-members, with full reference access to the displayed collections. All visitors are welcome. The opening hours include all weekday afternoons and more precise Library Opening Times can be found below. The Library reading-room is also available for hire for evening and morning events. The bookcases roll back to the walls, allowing more space and the room can seat  15 easily, with more chairs available nearby. A number of relevant magazines are provided.

The Library’s collections include, among about ten thousand books on display and several thousand more currently in storage, elements of the libraries of the Research into Lost Knowledge Organisation (RILKO) and the Wessex Research Group.

A unique classification system, developed and copyrighted in 1990, provides the Library with a very much higher subject resolution than could be obtained from the classical Dewey decimal classification system.

The Founders of the Library, a few other eminent local scholars, and major benefactors are Life Members of the Library.Membership, which allows borrowing, is available to all who live within a reasonable distance of the Library (and can, therefore, return books).

Apart from the subscriptions of members, the Library has no income other than what can be obtained from donations and other forms of benefaction. None of the Trustees or volunteers is paid.

The Library receives regular support from its landlords, the Glastonbury Experience Trust, and from Messrs. Speaking Tree, who provide it with technical facilities.

Because of our substantial running costs and the difficulty of collecting regular subscriptions we are asking all our members and donors to consider making a standing order on the form supplied.

LOCATION

The LoA is located in the rear courtyard of the Glastonbury Experience Courtyards.

The Address is:

• The Library of Avalon
• Glastonbury Experience Courtyard,
• 2-4 High Street,
• Glastonbury
• Somerset BA6 9DU

This beautiful courtyard is bounded by the ancient abbey wall and is guarded by dragons and graced with a beautiful mural by John Minshull.

Use what 3 words? this will take you right outside our door; relocated.outings.desktops

               

A History of the LoA

Opening Times —

Consultant Librarian Information

The Library Development Policy

updated August 2021