Celebrate Haunted Library’s 20th Anniversary

Haunted Library, opens a new window has been transforming the familiar spaces of KCPL's Independence Branch into a place full of mystery, imagination and the right amount of fear for nearly 20 years. 

Over that time, a wide range of themes have been explored. Dreams, mythology, goblins, fairies, cruise ships, museums and more. Each one has brought a new story and atmosphere to life, all with the goal of continuing to surprise patrons and offer a uniquely haunting library visit. 

For programming coordinator, Joel Caithamer, and the rest of the magical minds behind Haunted Library, it all comes down to one thing: the details. As Joel puts it, they've been known to "burn the midnight candle" to get them just right. In fact, the theme for each year is typically decided on by January (if not sooner), leaving ample time to dive deep and craft a satisfying experience. 

And attention to detail has been especially important in crafting this year's 20th anniversary theme, The Confectionary Catastrophe. 🍭

On October 23 and 24, KCPL will welcome you to the fictional small town of Smoat, Vermont. A seemingly ordinary place with a not-so-ordinary secret. In 1956, Smoat's famous confectionary factory was forced to shut down following stories of unexplained employee disappearances, strange experiments and disturbing creature sightings. Twenty years later, the town is trying to move forward. But the past may not be quite as buried as they'd like. 

With a distinctly retro 1970s vibe, this year's event will invite visitors to explore Smoat before stepping into the maze that is the confectionary. Check out town hot spots like The Gravy Smoat Diner and The Blowin' Smoat Auto Shop. You'll get to look over the diner menu, browse the local newspaper and more. Every detail helps to the shape the full experience. 

Once inside the maze (which lasts around eight minutes), things become even more immersive. Around every corner are new sounds, lights, colors and even scents intentionally chosen to invoke certain feelings and reactions. There's plenty more to discover, but we'll leave the rest of that up to you. We don't want to spoil all the fun. 

On the brink of 20 years, it's clear that this attraction has become more than just that. It's a tradition. "We have a lot of patrons that have been to almost all of them," shared Joel. "Some people who help with it now went through it as kids. This year is kind of a thank you to all of them."

We hope to see you in Smoat, Vermont! When you visit, don't forget that the more you believe in the details, the more real it can all become.