72. Haunted Library

For twenty years, since conceived by Middle School Librarian Roxanne Feldman, the Halloween Haunted Library has become one of the most fondly remembered traditions of the Dalton Middle School. The week-long celebration now features elaborate decorations and includes guest readers from all three divisions.

It all began in the 10th floor classroom with some black paper to cover the windows, one pumpkin, one candle, and some scary stories. Twenty years later, The Haunted Library has become one of the most fondly remembered traditions of the Dalton middle school.

The decorations have become much more elaborate: shredded black trash bags cover every inch of shelves, walls, and ceiling; tiny tea lights scattered about give the room an eerie glow; there are cobwebs in every corner; the A/C on full blast creates the chill in the air; and the creepy baby laugh echoes through the room. Yet, the stories have remained at the heart of it all.

When Middle School Librarian Roxanne Feldman first conceived of the idea for the Haunted Library, she was excited for students to engage with the library in a different way, to have some fun while sharing her love of storytelling. The week-long haunted celebration has grown to include guest readers from the faculty and staff of all three divisions and has become a true community event.

Highly anticipated by incoming 4th graders (who are told during library orientation that “we don’t talk about Halloween!”) and warmly recalled by older students (who now giggle at how scared they really were), the Haunted Library tradition will continue in the new library space, which opens Fall 2019, so students can enjoy spooky stories and the hair-raising cackle of MS teacher Martha Edelson for years to come!
—Christy Payne, Director of Library and Information Services