Every year, during a weekend in October, a little branch in a rural Northern Kentucky town becomes the county’s haunted hot-spot. This year will be no exception.
The Haunted Library will open to the public this year on Saturday, October 27 from 5-8:30 p.m. and again on Sunday from 2-4:30 p.m. The event is free, but canned or non-perishable goods will be accepted as a donation.
This year’s theme is Colonel Bizerko’s Land O’Fun and features things only a very creative librarian can imagine. Joel Caithamer, Children’s Librarian for the Durr Branch, begins working on the Haunted Library months in advance and there is no idea too small.
Transforming itself from a community programming and service hub to a haunted library is no small undertaking. For weeks, staff and volunteers construct sets, props, costumes and more in advance of the hundreds of people who will enter their doors. This not-so-scary event has become a must-attend program for families across the region. In addition to it being the only free haunted house type program, it is also family-friendly with the theme changing each year. Themes have included Mythology, where visitors embarked on a trip through the underworld. From the Minotaur’s dungeon to Medusa’s hair salon, there was a little something for everyone.
In its 11th year, the William E. Durr branch’s Haunted Library typically welcomes up to 1,500 people in the two days it is open. This is a huge undertaking for what is the smallest branch in Kenton County’s system. Faith Mulberry, branch manager, praises the staff for finding ways to be creative each year as well as how to operate such a huge undertaking.
Last year’s Haunted Library:
“We couldn’t do the Haunted Library without volunteers and the full investment of staff,” Mulberry stated. “We have so many great high school students, sorority girls, family members and other volunteers who take time out of their lives to enrich others in our community. And we do it all while staying open and continuing all regular services.”
The Durr Branch is unique in its layout and perfect to conduct an event of this nature. In addition to a large meeting room, there is a children’s meeting room adjoining the main meeting room. Off of the main reading room is access to an outside courtyard which has also been staged as part of the Haunted Library. Props are created by maintenance staff and volunteers and everything is assembled and decorated in the seven days prior to the event.
With this event growing in popularity, staff secured activities to keep people busy while they waited their turn. There will be line games, fortune teller and magicians and other activities to pass the time while visitors wait.
Beginning in 2013, a service component was added to the annual event. Guests are asked to bring a canned good to donate to a local charity. These items will be turned over to a local food pantry to help families heading into the holiday season.
The Haunted Library is located at the Kenton County Public Library’s William E. Durr Branch, located at 1992 Walton-Nicholson Road in Independence. To learn more, contact the Durr Children’s Department at (859) 962-4032.