Recollections of the Findhorn Foundation Libraries and Archives 2000-2006
Editor’s Note: Dina Leigh contacted the COIF team in 2025 to share her recollections of being the librarian at the Findhorn Foundation’s Park Building. We have compiled Dina’s memories into this article with links to the primary sources she mentions.
We start with the most recent communication in 2025.
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Over time, the physical Park Building which housed the library, has fallen into disrepair, and the library’s space and facilities became less accessible. Today, the building is no longer maintained as a functional library, and the much-loved collection has been distributed, stored, or lost with the decay of the infrastructure. Despite this, the collective memory of the library’s role remains an important part of the community’s history.
A recent and distressing part of the library’s history involves the present state of the books now stored in the old Evelyn bungalow. Many of these books had been collected over decades, donated by community members and visitors.
Looking forward, the focus for the community has shifted away from the physical library to other forms of education and community activity. The vision remains for ongoing learning and spiritual development, but in different formats that adapt to current needs and circumstances.
Despite personal and community challenges, including the decline of the Park Building and the absence of a physical library, there remains a deep appreciation for the community’s roots and the importance of shared knowledge. Supporting this legacy, in whatever form it takes, continues to be important for sustaining the community’s spirit.
Please continue to carry forward the values of education, remembrance, and community connection, ensuring that the legacy of Findhorn’s history remains alive in hearts and minds.
With best wishes,
Dina Leigh Summer, Findhorn, 2025
History of the Findhorn Foundation’s Park Building Library
The Park library had been looked after by Constance Marcham (Connie to her friends) for many years, but in 2000, she felt it was time to retire and was looking for someone to volunteer.
After completing my Foundation Year Programme in Cullerne garden, I was interested because of my love for books and history. I felt encouraged to step into the library and enrolled in a Library and Information Science course, which I completed with a National Certificate.
To give an idea of the Park Library in 2002, here is an extract from my research paper, “The Exploration into the Effectiveness of the Function and Service of the Findhorn Foundation Park Library.”
“The Park library is a private and special library which reflects the Findhorn Foundation community. The Findhorn Foundation acknowledges the library and archives, as part of the organisation to serve the collective memory. The library is seen as a sacred place of wisdom and as an important resource. The collection is narrow in scope, with emphasis on spirituality, healing and education and has no IT facilities yet. It is offering its services to members, guests and the wider community. Most users come at least once a month to browse, to borrow or as a place to sit, read and relax.”
The Park library is situated in the front of the Park building overlooking the garden. In Spring, the cherry tree is a joy. The limited space has a more living room-like feel than a library feel. There are two pink chairs, and I am not sure exactly what the story is, but it had to do with Eileen Caddy. There is also a typewriter used by Dorothy and other community members to type their stories and bulletins.
It is a very simple setup of bookshelves, archival cabinets, a desk, and a chair. In front of the fireplace, the warped bookshelves were replaced by Richard Leigh, who has been part of the Building Department in the 90s. In the loft, there is a small storage room which was holding treasures from the past. Together with Mike Scott and Sandy Bee, we catalogued and transferred a lot to the National Library of Scotland.
There are many collections of books in the Findhorn Foundation community with closed access, which means they are available only to a particular group of users, such as Cluny Hill College, Erraid, Iona, F.F. College, Education, and various departments, including Kitchens, Gardens, and Guest Accommodations.
Eileen Caddy had a keen interest in the library, and it was her wish that her private collection of books, on her request, be catalogued and organised so that they could be of use to all.
Dina Leigh, librarian recollections May 2006
I enjoyed my time in the Findhorn Library housed in the iconic Park Building. It has taken me some time to gather my thoughts and I am grateful that at last I have successfully transferred the library papers from my old 2006 computer to a new device in 2025. This personal achievement has allowed me to reconnect with the history and legacy of the Findhorn community, even though the for me there is sadness that the physical library within the Park Building no longer exists.
From the beginning, the Findhorn community was characterised by a strong emphasis on education and spiritual development. The original purpose of the library was to serve as a central resource for learning, covering topics such as spirituality, healing, nature, and the environment. By 2006, the library played an important role for community members, guests, and visitors alike. Despite limited staffing and funding, it remained a vibrant hub of knowledge and learning. People came and browsed sat in the window and gently imbibed all that was on offer.
In its early days people of all ages were attracted to Findhorn, because they found a group demonstrating a new way of life which gave expression to their dreams and hopes. From the original comradeship of seeking they developed into a fellowship of knowing that limitless love and harmony within and without, is co-operating with the Divine in manifesting a new age.
From the outset the Library was a channel for education and educators as confirmed by David Spangler.
“For the present time The Park (building) will be the scene of activity of an educational nature until such time as further buildings can be acquired or built by you. The library should be consecrated to the use of the educational side.”
Extract from Rokoczi and the Brotherhood excerpts of transmission through David Spangler from a being known as St. Germain, possibly identified as Rokoczi, on the 8th of November , 1971, at Findhorn.
The Past
In 2006 The Park library had at least 4,500 books in stock with more than 3,800 available on the shelves. There was a circulation of approx. 2,600 per year, 1,600 books per year were returned within one month, 900 books were returned in the same year, and there were a small amount of books returned later or missing, damaged or undergone other unexplainable accidents.
It is amazing that without a security system and without fines most books were returned within a reasonable time. The library received 500-700 donations per year. These donations are usually a welcome addition to the collection and also provide for the replacements of missing books.
The Park Library had a budget of £200 per year, from which some requested books by library users have been acquired. Donations and budget resulted in at least 500 new titles per year plus replacements of worn out and missing books.
Staff; the Park Library had 1 unpaid librarian for 4 shifts.
The Future
The Findhorn Foundation presents herself as a Spiritual Centre for Education. In these times of development of the human consciousness and the awakening of the individual, education will become even more important for the future. To get credibility we have to take ourselves seriously and present to the world not only a new way of education but also appropriate facilities such as an up-to-date and vibrant library. When the library has moved into a bigger space, it could have desks to study and a sitting space for small study groups.
As the library is growing into a learning resource centre, it could be a place not only for books, reference and archives, but there also could be an audio/visual section, a communication and electronic information location. When there is a computer; communication and information will be more effective and efficient. On first class, there could be notices of new books and maybe other things like book reviews.
Please, please support the library and its wonderful collection by sending love, keeping it in your awareness and blessing it also with money. Not only the gardens but also the library reflects how and who we are in this centre for spiritual education. A vibrant library is of most importance and will be beneficial for all.
From: Dreaming from the Past into the Future by Dina Leigh, librarian for the Park Library, May 2006.
Finally from my last letter in the Rainbow Bridge, Autumn 2006:
I have given all my love and care to raise more awareness of the library and archives. I still believe that the Findhorn Foundation, as a spiritual centre for education, deserves a vibrant library/archive resource centre. To be honest I have felt frustrated by the lack of support and the low profile it has in our community. I still find it difficult to understand that living in the moment seems not to include caring for the past of our community and that love in action does not necessarily include to create and maintain a location for written or electronic resources. From my first visit to the community in the seventies I remember the sound of ticking typewriters underlining the enthusiasm of people in, at that time, quite a bleak place. I saw an example how people can live a creative life which radiates hope for the future for mankind and the planet.
With gratitude and blessings for a future vibrant resource centre, library and archive.
Other articles about the Findhorn Foundation libraries
Park Library: From Midnight to the Morning Star – Sian Mackay
The demise of the library angel – Sian Mackay
Looking after the Cluny library – Anniese Worth Giuntini
Visited Findhorn: 1976. Lived in The Park:1999-2007
NFA member, librarian for the Findhorn Foundation libraries 2000-2006, painter MA Fine Art, teacher Art and the Human Soul, gardener and member Anthroposophical Society in GB
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