WORLD-CLASS BUDDHIST LIBRARYA treasure trove of Buddhist wisdom and thought

Perserving Wisdom. Inspiring Learning. Connecting Cultures.

Built through the generosity of our community, our expanding collection, currently housed in our temporary library, holds over 5,000 catalogued Buddhist books and texts — from sacred teachings to contemporary works, spanning multiple eras, subjects, languages, and traditions (with hundreds more awaiting cataloguing). Everyone is welcome!

Search our Collection of Buddhist Texts Here

A Library for the Whole Community

We currently have a collection of professionally catalogued Buddhist books in our cosy library, located in the Studio building. The collection covers a wide range of subjects, languages and time periods — from sacred Buddhist teachings and philosophy to history, culture, and practice.

​Every book in the library has been donated or made possible through the generosity of friends and supporters from around the world. It’s a collection shaped by kindness, and open to all.

Local Heritage Collection

Our Local Heritage section celebrates the unique history, landscapes, and living environment of Gomde UK and its surrounding region. While still in development, this collection will bring together resources on the area’s ecology, cultural history, and natural heritage, from maps and geological surveys to local guides, conservation studies, and works on flora and fauna.

Here, you’ll find books and materials arranged across themes such as:

• Local Heritage & History – including cultural studies, sites, and monuments
  
• Geography & Landscapes – with maps, atlases, and geological resources
  
• Flora & Fauna – exploring local plant life, wildlife, and biodiversity
  
• Ecology & Environment – covering ecosystems, conservation, sustainability, and environmental history

This evolving collection invites you to explore the stories, knowledge, and natural beauty of our local setting, connecting the library not only to global Buddhist learning, but also to the land, heritage and community in which it flourishes.

Using the Library

Our library is open to everyone. Whether you’d like to browse in the library or borrow a book to read at your own pace, everyone is welcome to become a member and explore this rich and growing collection!

You’re welcome to come in, browse the shelves, read quietly, or borrow books to take home. All we ask is that you register before borrowing, and let us know if you’d like help finding anything. At the moment, we’re not able to offer a postal lending service — but we hope to in the future!

Supporting the Library

There are lots of ways to support our library and help it grow:

• Donate books: We warmly welcome donations of books from all Buddhist traditions, as well as related subjects like culture, history, and philosophy. If you have a title in mind or a collection you’d like to share, please get in touch. Every contribution helps us grow the library and make a rich range of knowledge available to our growing community.
  
• Donate items: If you have furniture or items that could make our library space more comfortable and inviting, we’d love to hear from you.
  
• Volunteer your time: Our library is cared for by our lead librarian Rory Caddis and supported by a small team of wonderful volunteers. Whether you can spare a few hours a week or just want to help now and then, you’re warmly welcome — no experience needed.
  
• Tibetan Language Skills: We’d especially love to hear from anyone with skills in Tibetan reading or translation, but all kinds of help are appreciated.
  
• Make a financial gift: Financial support is always helpful to help us purchase rare and important collections and make these accessible to our community, and help further the activities of the library ensuring it is a welcoming, nurturing space for our broad and diverse community.

Donate

We'd like the library to reflect the interests and needs of the people who use it. So if you have ideas about what you’d like to see on the shelves, how we run the library, or what would make it more useful or welcoming—please share your thoughts! And if you’d like to get involved in the library project—please drop a note in our suggestion box or email Rory directly at rory@gomde.uk.

Creating a Centre of Research: Buddhism & Environment

We are placing the foundations for our library to be a premier research hub and sanctuary for both Buddhist practitioners and scholars. Our new online catalogue is designed to seamlessly integrate with other academic libraries worldwide and across the UK. By fostering collaborations with both local and international universities, we aspire to offer a distinctive collection of knowledge.

As our charitable aims also include conservation and environmental fieldwork, study and research, as we progress, the library collection will also include academic research focused on environmental studies conducted at Lindholme Hall and the encompassing Hatfield Moors.

Explore our Collection

Search our Collection of Buddhist Texts Here

Our Vision: Looking to the Future

A world-class Buddhist library

A Living Library of Buddhist Wisdom

Behind the scenes, we’ve laid the groundwork for a library of international calibre. Located within the upcoming Thubten Chökor Ling Temple, at the heart of our Buddhist centre, a new Gomde UK Library will be housed. It’s on track to become the largest physical collection of Buddhist texts in England, with a vision to grow to 50,000 volumes — spanning sacred scriptures, commentaries, philosophy, meditation, ethics, and more, across many languages and traditions.




With generous donations from friends and organisations worldwide combined with our commitment to the highest cataloguing standards, this future vast collection will provide deep insights into Buddhist culture, philosophy, and history, serving a diverse audience including scholars, practitioners, and the general public.

Our forthcoming, permanent library in the new temple will include state-of-the-art digital resources, spaces designed for teachings, seminars, and research, and quiet areas for individual study and reflection. We are dedicated to preserving and making Buddhist teachings accessible to all, enhancing both group learning and personal development.

Building Strong Foundations

We’ve already made great progress. Behind the scenes, we’ve laid the groundwork for a library of international calibre:

• We use professional cataloguing systems built to the highest international standards.

We’ve formed partnerships and collaborations with respected partners:

• Buddhist Digital Resource Centre (BDRC) — the largest digital archive of Tibetan and Buddhist texts — to incorporate their metadata and link digitised works directly into our catalogue.
  
• The British Library, who have provided invaluable advice and contributed significant donations from their Tibetan collection.
  
• Amaravati Monastery, home to the UK’s current largest Buddhist library, with whom we share knowledge and mutual support.
  
• City of Doncaster Council, working with us to align with local goals and support future funding

A Space for Everyone

Whether you’re a scholar researching ancient texts, a scientist interested in contemplative practices or ecology, a practitioner deepening your knowledge, or someone newly curious about Buddhism and cultural traditions — the library will welcome all.

Once complete, the permanent library will offer access to Buddhist books and texts in multiple languages and across traditions, while also serving as a vibrant learning hub for:
​• Academic institutions, researchers and students of all ages

• Practitioners, creatives and translators
  
• Local and global visitors exploring ecology, culture, or ethical living

By preserving ancient wisdom and making it accessible in new ways, the Gomde UK Library will bridge the past and present — helping people around the world engage with timeless teachings in a way that feels personal, relevant, and alive.



Thoughtfully designed for both quiet reflection and active study, it will include:

• Dedicated areas for teachings, seminars, and group study
  
• Quiet spaces for personal reading and contemplation
  
• A fully integrated digital infrastructure for global access and online research
  
• A special section dedicated to local heritage, featuring books and materials that celebrate the natural history, biodiversity, and cultural stories of the Humberhead Peatlands and the Lindholme Hall Estate.

Support Our Buddhist Library

A Living Library for the Future

Together, we’re building a future where knowledge is accessible to everyone regardless of age, background or circumstance, a home for wisdom, shaped by community, and rooted in care for both people and the planet.

​With your support, we can ensure this important project comes to life and benefits countless people for generations to come. There are many ways you can contribute!

Volunteer
Help catalogue texts and support events.
Volunteering

Gift Books
Donate Buddhist or local, heritage-related books. Please email Rory directly at rory@gomde.uk.

Offer Professional Services
Offer translation, archival, or tech support. Please email Rory directly at rory@gomde.uk.

Donate
Make a financial offering to help grow the collection and build the permanent library home.
Donate