When I was first asked to investigate the possibility of the Bartholomew County Public Library being haunted, I have to admit I was a bit caught off guard. I had never heard any specific paranormal claims regarding this library before. However, the two intriguing incidents that were brought to my attention were compelling enough for me to accept the invitation to explore further.

The first report came from Children’s Programming Librarian Kate Grafelman. On two separate occasions, she had books unexpectedly fall on her while researching local history and genealogy in the library’s Indiana Room. The first incident occurred about a year and a half ago when the Indiana Room was on the main level — the second happened earlier this year after the room had been moved upstairs to the mezzanine. In both cases, the books were not sticking out precariously from the shelves — they simply seemed to dislodge and fall onto Kate as she was working. I found this particularly puzzling for an experienced librarian as they are typically adept at navigating the shelves without incident.

Video:

The second report came from Children’s Librarian Rachel Akemon. Back in October 2019, she was covering a program in the library’s Red Room when she noticed the clock hands on the wall suddenly begin spinning rapidly as if someone was quickly winding it. Rachel managed to capture video of the clock going through an entire 12-hour cycle before abruptly stopping. Understandably unnerved, she decided to call a colleague to help her pack up.

With these two unusual occurrences as the starting point, I felt it was important to get a deeper understanding of the history and significance of this particular library space. The current Cleo Rogers Memorial Library building, with its striking modernist design by architect I.M. Pei, opened in 1969. But the site has a much richer backstory.

Historically, the block where the library now stands was home to two earlier structures — the Carnegie Library, dedicated in 1903, and the Tabernacle Christian Church, built in 1911. Both were eventually demolished to make way for the current library. Interestingly, the adjacent Irwin House provided an even more intriguing historical tidbit, with a 1912 newspaper article detailing the discovery of a man and dog’s skeletal remains buried near the home’s entrance. The cause of this mysterious burial was never conclusively determined.

Armed with this historical context, my investigative team and I started methodically exploring the library space, looking for any signs of paranormal activity. We employed various Instrumental Trans-Communication (ITC) techniques, including electronic voice phenomena (EVP) sessions, ghost box sweeps, and direct voice recordings using filtered white noise.

Our initial EVP session in the mezzanine Indiana Room yielded some potentially compelling audio captures. While many of the responses were inconclusive, there were a few instances where we seemed to hear disembodied voices or other anomalous sounds. One EVP in particular stood out, with a voice seemingly stating, “I worked here.” This, combined with the ITC app picking up relevant words during a concurrent session, hinted that there may indeed be some lingering energies or entities associated with the library’s history.

We continued our exploration, venturing down to the main level and the former Indiana Room space. Here, we set up various detection devices, including yes/no response meters and EMF sensors. Our ghost box and direct voice sessions in this area also yielded some intriguing results, with what sounded like intelligible conversations and even a few apparent attempts at humor.

However, throughout our investigation, I couldn’t help but be struck by the idea that the library, with its vast trove of accumulated knowledge and history, could be a veritable magnet for paranormal phenomena. Perhaps the very act of housing and preserving humanity’s stories, ideas, and experiences creates an energetic resonance that attracts discarnate presences. And if these entities do indeed linger here, perhaps their motivations are not malevolent but rather a sincere desire to help curate and share in the wonders contained within these hallowed halls.

Ultimately, while the questions raised by our investigation remain largely unanswered, I can’t help but feel that this library, with its rich history and paranormal intrigue, offers a tantalizing glimpse into the vast, unseen realms that may coexist alongside our own. If a haunting ever speaks to you, I’d encourage you to heed the call — just as you would a fascinating book waiting to be read. You never know what profound insights or connections you might uncover hidden within the stacks.

— Evel Ogilville