That’s because wooden posts with pages on them have been set up around the library, 1015 13th St. The concept is called a Story Walk. It allows visitors to stroll around the library, reading a few pages at a time.

“We have posts all around the whole block,” said Laura Koons, library director. “It starts at the library and they work their way counterclockwise around the block. You circle your way all the way around and back to the library.”

Each post has about two pages, Koons said.

The story told is a book called “Hardly Haunted” by Jessie Sima. It is a spooky story about an old house who wants to be a home, according to information online.

-Submitted photo
The Story Walk includes multiple posts around the Manson Public Library. Calhoun County Conservation provided the posts.

“It’s a picture book, so there aren’t a lot of words,” Koons said. “It’s not terribly scary, it’s just a fun little picture book about a house. It is haunted, but not real scary.”

Abbey Conrad, of Calhoun County Conservation, loaned the posts to the library.

“They are pretty sturdy,” said Koons. “They are wooden posts with a podium attached. They are about 36 inches high. They are set in buckets with rocks to hold it down. They are very heavy. We won’t have to worry about them blowing away in the wind.”

Koons, who has been director for seven years, said the Story Walk can be read by anyone of any age.

“We’ve already had someone in their 60s go around twice,” she said.

From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. trick-or-treaters will be dropping by to check out the story.

Koons estimates the Story Walk takes about 5 to 10 minutes to complete. There is no admission cost.

“We are always looking for something to engage the community and of course we love books,” Koons said. “Since we have had the COVID situation, it’s been harder for people to do things and a lot of people are shying away from large groups. This is something where people can space out and enjoy a book and hopefully bring people into the library eventually.”

At the end of the Story Walk, there is a QR code people can scan. That will be used to record attendance for the library.