Halloween Programming —  Libraries Bring Communities Together

This Halloween season, libraries across the country transformed into enchanted spaces filled with spooky delights, creative crafts, and community spirit. From haunted mazes to costume drives, these celebrations showcased the incredible ways libraries bring people together.

At Buckingham Public Library in Central Virginia, Branch Manager Grace Barlow and her team hosted their second annual Haunted Library, converting their adult stacks into a strobe-lit maze complete with animatronics and costumed volunteers. Meanwhile, younger patrons enjoyed an "Apothecary Shop" where they crafted Halloween creations. "Events like our Halloween celebration really bring people together," Barlow shared, noting how vital these programs are in their sparsely populated county.

The Columbus-Lowndes Public Library System in Mississippi went all out with back-to-back events. Director Erin Busbea reported welcoming 300 kids for their early evening festivities, then quickly transforming the space for an adult party that drew 100 attendees. "Two big events in one day is not for the weak!" she laughed.

From Waterford Public Library's creative trunk-or-treat displays to Coolidge Library's indoor and outdoor activities, libraries embraced both traditional and innovative programming. Mt. Pulaski Public Library staff dressed as Inside Out emotions, while Buck Memorial Library's director and team delighted patrons in costume. Other libraries organized costume drives, Halloween trivia, and spooky storytelling by the fire.

These celebrations prove that libraries are more than book repositories—they're vibrant community hubs where memories are made and neighbors connect over shared experiences.

Written by the ARSL Office