Libraries are often seen as havens of knowledge and quiet study, but some hold secrets far more intriguing than your average novel. These aren’t your typical lending libraries; they house bizarre collections and chilling histories that might make you think twice about late-night study sessions. Ready to explore the shadowy side of literature? Here are ten of the creepiest libraries around the world.
The Nassau Public Library
The Nassau Public Library, the oldest and largest in the Bahamas, boasts Arawak artifacts and historical documents. But here’s the twist: this octagonal building was originally a jail, built in 1797. Imagine checking out books from what were once tiny prison cells! The basement is even known as “the dungeon.” Talk about historical ambiance!
Weapon of Mass Instruction
This isn’t your typical library building, but rather an armored tank roaming the streets of Argentina. Artist Raul Lemesoff converted a 1970 Ford Falcon into a mobile library called “A Weapon of Mass Instruction.” It carries up to 900 books, disseminating knowledge instead of bullets. While whimsical, the sight of a gun turret gliding down the street filled with books might provoke a moment of fear.
Conjuring Arts Research Center
Step into the Conjuring Arts Research Center in midtown Manhattan. This dimly lit library holds hundreds of books on stage magic, some dating back to the 1700s. It also houses original stage magic apparatus that once thrilled audiences. Visits are by appointment only, adding to the mystique of this magical place.
University of Southern Denmark
At the University of Southern Denmark, it’s best to judge a book by its cover—literally. Researchers discovered that several rare books from the 16th and 17th centuries had high concentrations of arsenic on their covers. The arsenic was used as a pesticide during the 19th century but now poses a health hazard. These books are kept in special protective boxes, and handling is highly discouraged.
New York Puppet Library
Located in Brooklyn College, the New York Puppet Library is home to almost 100 unusual puppets. The fact that puppets are stored 20 feet off the ground makes it creepier. Anyone wishing to borrow one has to climb a ladder into the rafters with painted eyes watching them. Imagine being there as the sun sets, casting shadows across this collection!
Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library
Monsters come to life within the pages of the Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library. This library specializes in manuscripts about mythical beasts and cryptids, with vivid illustrations of dog-headed humans and other odd creatures. They even hosted an exhibition called “De Monstris” to showcase their strange collection of monster lore.
Alaska Resources Library and Information Services
Imagine walking into a library where hundreds of glass eyes from animal corpses stare down from the shelves. That’s the reality at the Alaska Resources Library and Information Services (ARLIS). They focus on “realia,” including animal skeletons, skulls, teeth, and taxidermy. The specimens are used by teachers and scientists, and occasionally, they’re even loaned out for film sets.
Newberry Library
The Newberry Library in Chicago holds a 17th-century spellbook written by two anonymous witches. “The Book of Magical Charms” contains spells for everything from cheating at dice to raising the dead, using ingredients like dead men’s teeth. The library sought public assistance in translating these occult texts, inviting experts in Latin, witchcraft, and medieval English to take a peek.
Historical Medical Library
Located at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, the Historical Medical Library contains over four hundred editions printed before 1501. It showcases the harrowing medical procedures of the past, from blood-letting to trepanning (drilling holes into the skull). It’s a treasure trove of historical medical knowledge, but not for the faint of heart.
Patee Library—Penn State
The Patee Library at Penn State has a dark history. In 1969, 22-year-old Betsy Ruth Aardsma was brutally stabbed to death in the basement. The murder remains unsolved, and some say her ghost still haunts the library’s stacks. Next time you are burning the midnight oil, you might want to think twice about being in the basement alone!
English Crime and Execution Broadsides Collection
This is not a library in itself, but a collection owned by Harvard Law School Library. The English Crime and Execution Broadsides includes nearly 600 “broadsides” detailing capital crimes and punishments from 1735 to 1868 in England and Wales. These include descriptions of arson, rape, assault, and murder, alongside illustrations of execution scenes and bloody crime vignettes.
