You can’t spell books without “boo”, and these Halloween library displays are a fine testament to that.
Get inspired to create your own, with thirteen eye-catching ideas below.
Floating Pumpkins & Terrifying Tablecloths
Credit: twolibrarians
The paper pumpkin hovers ominously above this book display, as created by the folks over at Two Librarians.
We love the black tablecloth and the selection of Halloween books on top, that too, appear as if they are floating thanks to the long tablecloth. Orange and black hanging paper strips complete the look.
Fall/Halloween Combo ft. Spooky Owl!
Credit: orlandologanolivero
We love the combination of small hay bales, leaves, and the traditional pumpkin and ghostly decor that this display brings to life, courtesy of Orlando Olivero.
There are lots of brilliant little intricacies to pick up on in this one, notably the strung up pumpkins and red flowers. And of course, we can’t forget the spooky, watchful owl keeping a keen eye on proceedings!
Simply Spooky
Credit: mmemarieeve
Speaking of strung up pumpkins, this display keeps it simple but effective, hanging the pumpkin heads across the bookshelves for a lovely visual along with the beautiful colors in these books.
The Book Pumpkin
Credit: Soledad Branch Library
The bats are a-flight everywhere at Soledad Library, but it’s the pumpkin carved out of a book (yes) that takes the trophy as one of the most creative Halloween library decorations your eyes shall feast on!
Ghoulishly Gothic
Credit: gouldlibrary
This display comes courtesy of the Laurence McKinley Gould Library at Carleton College, Minnesota.
The more adult-themed display is perfect for college libraries such as this, with the black and red colors and sheer *amount* of Dracula books harkening visions of olde Transylvania.
Halloweentown
Credit: librarianslovetacos
A more frightful town we never did see! This exceptional display was done with spray-painted cartons and taped colored paper for the windows from the inside of said cartons. What a way to enter a library!
Perilous Paper Bags
Credit: SSF Public Library
This is a fun way to incorporate photos/portraits of librarians, with their heads on sticks poking out at various points in this paper bag haunted house display.
Orange garlands behind the bags complete the aesthetic.
While SSF Public Library isn’t haunted, did you know that there are as many as sixteen haunted American libraries? We detailed all the ghoulish goings on, and where to find them in our blog.
Tangled Webs of Books
Credit: Britanico Library
The spider webs on my street always do a fine job of scaring me, and these webs hanging from the shelves of Britanico Library are no different. Thick with spookiness!
Spiders and Skeletons
Credit: Kayla’s Reading Nook
Continuing the spidery theme, here we have a combo of spiders on the bookshelf and skeletons of pets gone by sitting atop the books. In memorandum…
Monochromatic Monsters
Credit: Stonybrook Library
The creativity here is first class. Books have stacked up as a pumpkin, black cat, and ghost respectively then small cut outs have been used to decorate them accordingly. This is a beautiful visual from the folks over at Stonybrook Library.
As the Stonybrook Library say in their post, ‘You can’t spell books without a “boo”!’
The Headless Woman
Credit: Bradford County Public Library
Another one that works great for adults at a public library, the headless woman watches wistfully over the Halloween book display. The detail in things like her shoes, and the eyeballs between the books, is excellent and adds to the spooky aesthetic.
Caution! Scary Books!
Credit: Madison (NJ) Library
The caution tape above the display is eye-catching, but we particularly love the subtle cobwebs and leaves on the lower level of this bookstand. The leaves would work well for fall library displays as well as Halloween.
Subtle Bookshelf Scaries
Credit: The Lit Principal
The Lit Principal schools us on how to make a spooky bookshelf – note the deadened trees and black lamps that dot the shelves in this spooky display. An ominous looking wizard’s hat also sits atop one set of shelves: very Potter-esque, if we do say so ourselves.
I didn’t mean to rhyme that last sentence, but, I did a good job anyway.