The Tibetan Studies Collection supports the Tibetan Buddhism and Cultural Studies Program of UCSB's Religious Studies Department. The books themselves are in the long, narrow pecha format (about 4" x 14") used by the Tibetans. Volumes are often wrapped in cloth covers or stored in specially-made boxes. Because of the special format and the uniqueness of the collection the library has created a separate, locked room for the Tibetan Studies Collection. Trish and Robert Duggan and Ann Hagerty donated many of the texts, as well as the furnishings for the Tibetan Studies Room, in memory of Damian Duggan.
Included in the collection are over 400 volumes of Tibetan Buddhist canon, as well as the collected works of some of the most important masters from all of the major Tibetan Buddhist schools. The core collection, the canon, is a collection of the most important Indian Buddhist texts translated from the Sanskrit into Tibetan. It is divided into the Kangyur and the Tengyur. The Kangyur (literally, translation of the word) are texts attributed to the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, who lived around 2,500 years ago. The Tengyur (literally, translation of the treatises) are texts written by Indian masters (200 CE TO 1000 CE) to explain the Kangyur.
In addition to the canon, the collection contains some of the most important religious literature of Tibet in the form of the collected works (sung boom) of eminent lamas.
The Tibetan Studies Collection is located in room 2572 in the southwest area of the 2nd floor, Ocean Side of the UCSB Library. To use the collection you must first register with David Gartrell, Religious Studies Librarian. Authorized users may check out the key from the Reference Desk.