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Haunted library draws a thrill-seeking crowd

Haunted library draws a thrill-seeking crowd
At the Haunted Library, you can check out any book you like, but you might never leave. … Press photos by Travis Fischer
By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

It was a night of terror as the Charles City Public Library transformed into a haunted house of horrors on Saturday, Oct. 26.

Families lined up around the Zastrow room on Saturday evening waiting for their turn to take a tour through the spooky spectacle not for the faint of heart. Going through in groups of six, more than 160 people made it through the library’s terrifying twists and turns.

“I thought that was pretty good,” said children’s librarian Stacey Leerhoff. “We were moving pretty good.”

Leerhoff has long thought about setting up some kind of haunted house at the library, but this is the first year the library has put on the event.

Utilizing carloads of contributed Halloween decorations, the staff spent Friday and Saturday planning out a path through the library, setting up thematic scare centers at strategic points.

Setting up and running the haunted library took a tremendous amount of work. Not only did the entire library staff participate in one way or another, but more than 20 volunteers also contributed, from the high school student council coming in to help decorate to friends and family dressing up to scare visitors walking through.

Leerhoff said the Haunted Library ran smoothly for a first-time event and she enjoyed seeing the volunteers come up with new ideas on the fly to invoke more thrills and chills.

“The scarers got better as you went,” said Leerhoff. “Watching the kids as they went through, they started to change it up.”

Receiving a lot of positive feedback for the event, Leerhoff is already thinking about what worked and what could be improved for next year.

“I liked that everybody had so much fun with it,” said Leerhoff.

Haunted library draws a thrill-seeking crowd
Witches brewed up some terrifying ambiance as the Charles City Public Library transformed into a haunted amusement.
Haunted library draws a thrill-seeking crowd
There were some quiet corners to read bone-chilling stories at the Haunted Library.
Haunted library draws a thrill-seeking crowd
The Haunted Library’s Teen Corner is a great place to meet funny new friends.
Haunted library draws a thrill-seeking crowd
You never know who is lurking in the Haunted Library.
Haunted library draws a thrill-seeking crowd
The Haunted Library’s welcome staff had patrons running with excitement.

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