Krotona Library

Krotona Library was founded in 1912 when Krotona was located in Hollywood, and was moved to Ojai along with the Institute in 1924. The library emphasizes Theosophy or the ageless wisdom tradition,  and spiritual traditions of the East and West. Students and research scholars are welcome.

Oct. 1, 1926, in honor of Besant’s 80th birthday, afternoon tea was served at Krotona to 150 to 200 friends. Standing on the veranda of the Krotona Library, Dr. Besant shared her first impressions of the Ojai Valley.

“I find that your valley has an atmosphere of peace, tranquility and spirituality that is most reminiscent of India in these respects than any other part of the globe that I have visited.”

Explore the ageless wisdom tradition and spiritual traditions of East and West.

Our Collection

Our collection includes nearly 8,000 book titles and contains a wide range of materials including texts, journals, and study guides on

  • theosophy
  • religion and philosophy
  • meditation and healing
  • death and dying
  • yoga
  • science and spirituality
  • and more

Browse our titles in the Online Catalog.

Online Catalog

The Joy Mills Collection

The Krotona Library hosts an extensive collection of lectures, essays, articles, photographs, correspondence, and over 500 annotated books by distinguished Theosophical scholar Joy Mills.

The collection is available to scholars, writers, researchers and students.

Brochure Joy Mills Collection

“Our immediate task is to effect within ourselves such a transformation as will bring about the birth of a new individual.” —Joy Mills

The Three Truths

  • The soul is immortal, and its future is the future of a thing whose growth and splendor has no limit.
  • The Principle which gives life dwells in us, and without us, is undying and beneficent, is not heard or seen, or smelt, but it is perceived by the one who desires perception.
  • Each of us is our own absolute lawgiver, the dispenser of glory or gloom to ourselves, the decreer of our life our reward, our punishment.

These truths which are as great as is life itself are as simple as the simplest mind of man. Feed the hungry with them.

The Idyll of the White Lotus

Membership

Krotona library is open to all. Visitors may explore the collection, relax in the peaceful atmosphere of the library, study in comfortable surroundings, and check out interesting books.

The Library loans its collection to residents of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, in addition to serving Krotona’s resident scholars, faculty, and students.

Membership Fee: $20 per year

Brochure Library Membership

H. S. Olcott Memorial Library (Wheaton, IL)

An expanded theosophical resource is available through the collection of the Henry S. Olcott Memorial Library in Wheaton, Illinois. For more information visit the website of the Olcott Library.  You may also be interested in the The Adyar Library and Research Center at the Theosophical Society International headquarters in Chennai, India.

Borrowing Policy

Books: 1-3 titles for up to 4 weeks.

Book renewal is an additional 4 weeks if the book is not on hold and may be requested by phone or email.

805 646–2653
library@krotonainstitute.org

Library Hours

Monday and Tuesday – Closed

Wednesday to Saturday – 12:00-5:00 pm

Sunday – 1:00-5:00 pm

© 1924-2021 Krotona Institute of Theosophy