Services of the Iva J. and Lloyd A. Johnson
Metaphysical Library and Archives

Housing the Ernest Holmes Collection

Affiliated with Holmes Institute of Consciousness Studies, Johnson Library supports the vision of Holmes Institute to educate individuals who seek to expand their knowledge and application of spiritual principles to prepare for service and leadership in the local and global community. Open both to matriculating students and to other scholars and researchers, the library is staffed from 9:00 to 5:00 Monday through Friday. Special arrangements may be made to use the library and archives during evenings and weekends.

Johnson Library occupies a spacious area on the first floor of the Home Office of United Church of Religious Science in Burbank. The collection—consisting of over 17,000 books and audio-visual materials, an extensive pamphlet file, and a historical archive—covers these subjects:

  • Scriptures of all world religions, along with commentary
  • Western and Eastern philosophical traditions
  • Depth and transpersonal psychology
  • Mind/body connection
  • Holistic healing
  • Prayer and meditation
  • Mysticism
  • New science and cosmology
  • Metaphysical teachings of Science of Mind, Unity, Theosophy, Christian Science, and other New Thought groups
  • Mental and spiritual healing

Presently the library’s collection is accessed by means of a card catalog; however, retrospective conversion of the catalog is underway. When this project is complete, students will be able to access the collection from anywhere in the world. Complete texts of the writings of Ernest Holmes and other major New Thought writers will be posted on the website, along with search tools.

Students who have a Los Angeles Public Library card may research journals in the fields of religion and theology through the databases of Los Angeles Public Library by logging onto www.lapl.org. A vast number of Internet websites also provide research resources for students, such as www.scienceofmind.com, www.prs.org, www.neweverymoment.com, www.ernestholmesnet.com, www.hyattcarter.com, www.sacreddays.org, and www.emersoncentral.com.

Borrowing privileges are accorded to registered students as well as to other users, such as Religious Science ministers and practitioners, who pay a small annual fee. A procedure is currently in place for borrowing books by mail, also for a small fee. Photocopies of noncirculating library material in the public domain and, within the provisions of the principles of fair use, of copyrighted material may be made at a student’s request on office copy machines located on the second floor.

For assistance with reference or research, please call or email: Holmes Institute Administrative Office