Arrival
The group arrived on campus around 5 pm to meet with Ariel, one of the students hosting the paranormal event on campus. The group ate dinner and then at 5:50 pm headed to the library to take in some of their equipment for the night’s investigation.
Once at the library, they met with Kate to talk about what they planned to do prior to the students arriving for the night’s investigation – this would be PIM’s first hosted-public investigation. The group decided to start with doing baseline readings, which included baseline outdoor, electrical magnetic field (EMF) and temperature readings.
After the group finished taking readings around 7:30 pm they then went to the car and grabbed the rest of their equipment. They then started to set up cameras and voice recorders closer to the library close time of 8 pm.
A voice recorder was placed in the vault of the Archives Room to document any noises that may occur in the Archive Vault or Archive Office. The door to the Archive Office would remain locked throughout the investigation.
Trying to eliminate as much light as possible, the group turned off most of the power switches to the lights in the building, but unfortunately couldn’t turn off the safety lights. They then manually removed the florescent bulbs and carefully placed them in safe areas.
Gravy then brought out 3-mil poly sheathing to help block out other light on Floor 1A.
The event would start at 9 pm, but the group was a little behind. They met with the students at 9:07 pm by the Circulation Desk, and would break up into three groups – each PIM member heading to a different floor with their students.
Investigation
Basement (Level 1A) – 9:24 pm
The group started this part of the investigation with several minutes of silence. When Noah mentioned to the group they would be starting an electronic voice phenomena (EVP) session, two of the students who were spread throughout the level reported seeing a shadow moving from left to right by where the camera was placed, which was near the stairway. It was noted that because of the exit signs it could have played tricks with their eyes.
During the EVP session, it was noted there appeared to be color changes seen in the corner of the study area. No other noises occurred except for the group hearing three knocks, which came from a group on the 2nd Level.
No other activities occurred at this time.
Level 2 – 9:24 pm
Karen led her group to the level and spread them out throughout the shelving units all within eyeshot of each other. The group took about five minutes of silence to observe the normal building noises.
When the group started the EVP session, no unusual noises were noted. One of the students did report at one point feeling cold next to them, but it could have been a draft as they were sitting near the ramp area.
At one point Karen thought she heard an auditory response to one of the student’s questions: “Did you find the book you were looking for?” She thought she heard a quiet “No”. This was not captured on any of the voice recorders.
No other activities occurred at this time.
4th Floor – 9:24 pm
The group spread out throughout the 4th Floor and took a few minutes of silence. After the group started an EVP session, it was noted there were two knocks that came from behind one of the students. It was not known if it were paranormal in nature or not.
At one point one of the students reported feeling like crying. It was not known if this were a response to something or if it were simply normal emotions.
It was also noted that voices from outside could be heard during this time, which made it difficult to investigate.
No other activities occurred at this time.
END TIME: 9:45 pm
The groups all met back on the Main Level to determine where each group would go from there.
4th Floor and then Main Level – 9:50 pm
The group started the session on the 4th Floor near the Archives. Because of the noise contamination from the group on Level 2, the group moved down to the Main Floor in the back study area at 10:05 pm.
While in the study area the group conducted an EVP session. It was reported that there were possible whispers coming from the window by the globes. Voice from outside could be heard, but were of people yelling. It can’t be ruled out that the noise may have come from outside or from the HVAC.
No other activities occurred at this time.
Basement (Level 1A) – 9:50 pm
After all group members were spread throughout the space, at 9:55 pm one of the students reported seeing a white light near them on a shelving unit. No external lights were noticed by any other members of the group. During the quiet session, Karen also at one point thought she saw a shadow walk left to right past the middle exit doors across from the elevator. It possibly could have been a trick of the eye due to the exit door light.
During the session, one of the students thought they heard someone whistle near then in the right back corner of the room they were sitting in at 10 pm. They were a little unnerved and then moved to one of the study tables for the remainder of the session.
No other activities occurred at this time, but the one student who reported seeing the light earlier in the session noted they thought they saw it again when the group was ready to leave.
Level 2 – 9:50 pm
All group members spread out throughout the book shelves and took a few minutes of silence to observe the normal sounds of the location.
The group then started an EVP session. For the last ten minutes of the session, one of the students felt very anxious.
No other activities occurred at this time.
END TIME: 10:15 pm
The group’s re-met back on the Main Floor before switching locations.
Level 2 – 10:25 pm
The group took a few minutes to observe the normal noises of the building after all students spread out throughout the shelves. The group started an EVP session at 10:30 pm.
During Noah’s initial question, the student sitting in the upper left corner of the room thought she heard someone whisper “Yeah me” in her ear in response to the statement made by Noah in regards to people reporting feeling scared when down in this area.
At 10:36 pm it was reported by one of the students to hear finger tapping on something near them. It possibly repeated again when the group asked for whoever was there to repeat the tapping. No evidence of this was captured on audio.
The group continued the EVP session when at 10:40 pm one of the students reported seeing a shadow walking down the ramp. No video camera was running in the room at the time, and was unable to verify this personal experience.
Trying to still contact any spirit in relation to the knocking/tapping sound, at 10:50 pm two loud knocks were reported, which Noah stated actually made the cement floor vibrate.
No other activities occurred at this time.
Main Level – 10:25 pm
The group spread out in the room to observe all angles. They took a few minutes of silence to observe the normal sounds of the room before starting an EVP session.
Several of the students asked questions at this time as they had previously in the night. After no activities occurred, Karen had everyone meet in the middle of the room to talk about how they thought the night went as well as to talk about how it is to normally investigate a full night.
No other activities occurred at this time.
Basement (Level 1A) – 10:25pm
After the group spread out in the space, all members took a few minutes of silence. At one point one of the students reported feeling an anxious feeling by the elevator.
During the EVP session, one of the students reported seeing an orb. This was not captured on video. Gravy saw shadows which could have been light play from the exit signs. Another student also experienced shadow movement in the same location. Gravy then proceeded to have the students switch places to see if anyone else would experience the same phenomenon. After doing so, the male student reported similar experiences.
After the switch, two female students felt an uncomfortable feeling in the back left corner of the library. Gravy proceeded to have the male student sit in the area during the remainder of the EVP session. The student experienced a cold spot on his arm. The group was unable to determine where it came from.
END TIME: 10:55 pm
After the Part 1 session concluded, the groups all met back upstairs. The group leaders thanked the students for coming out who investigated with them, and then went on to give a brief tutorial to the new group of students who were waiting to participate in the night’s event. Because things were a little behind, the groups wouldn’t spend as much time with the newer students as they had previously.
Basement (Level 1A) – 11:11 pm
Once Noah took the newer students down to the level, he went over a brief introduction as to what to expect from the investigation as well as what the PIM members did in the library prior to them arriving (e.g. EMF sweeps, equipment set up).
The group took a few minutes of silence and then started an EVP session at 11:18 pm. At 11:28 pm there was a possible cold spot felt by one of the girls in the back right corner of room.
No other activities occurred at this time.
Level 2 – 11:11 pm
Once the group was settled in their designated spots, they took a few minutes of silence to observe the normal sounds of the room.
At 11:14 pm the group started an EVP session. During the session it was noted that some voices could be heard coming from the lower level, but no other activities occurred at that time.
Main Level – 11:11 pm
Once all students and Gravy were situated in the room, they started an EVP session right away. At 11:17 pm a female scream was reported. They were unable to determine if the sound was from the inside or the outside of the library. Voices could be heard from outside but one of the students believe she heard it from inside the library. Possibly the HVAC caused this sound but couldn’t be verified this at the time.
No other activities occurred at this time.
END TIME: 11:30 pm
The groups immediately switched locations without re-meeting on the Main Level.
Main Level – 11:32pm
After all members settled throughout the space, the group took a few minutes of silence to observe the normal building noises. They then started an EVP session shortly after.
At 11:35 pm it was reported there were possible whisper sounds coming again from the same window area near the globes that Noah’s first group experienced. It is most likely that these noises originated from the HVAC ductwork.
No other activities occurred at this time.
Basement (Level 1A) – 11:32 pm
After spreading out in the room, they took a few minutes to observe the normal sounds of the room. They then started an EVP session at 11:37 pm.
During this session, no one noticed any shadows or lights as Karen’s previous group reported. After the group concluded the session, one of the girls did mention she thought she felt something brush across her face.
No other activities occurred at this time.
Level 2 – 11:32 pm
After settling into place, the group started an EVP session right away.
At 11:39 pm knocking was reported. It was unknown if it were paranormal in nature or not.
No other activities occurred at this time.
END TIME: 11:53 pm
The groups immediately switched locations without re-meeting on the Main Level.
Level 2 – 11:54 pm
The group took a few minutes of silence to observe the normal sounds of the room and then continued to do an EVP session. Although it was attempted to get any entities to communicate via the same knocking that had been experienced previously, the phenomena did not manifest during this session.
No activities occurred at this time.
Main Level – 11:54 pm
All group members spread out throughout the space and took a few minutes of silence. Karen asked if the students in her group would be able to lead the EVP session, but no one volunteered.
The group conducted the EVP session starting at 11:57 pm.
No other activities occurred at this time.
Basement (Level 1A) – 11:54 pm
The group spread out in the room and then continued to do an EVP session. Without informing the group of the previous groups experiences, Gravy proceeded to have each member take turns sitting in the back left corner. Two of the three students that sat back there reported to have cold spots. The first student experienced very cold hands. The second student reported having cold lower legs. During both experiences, Gravy did an EMF sweep around that area and nothing could be reported as paranormal.
No other activities occurred at this time.
END TIME: 12:13 am
At the end of the session, all PIM members thanked the students for coming out. After they left, all PIM members quickly went around and gathered their equipment while putting all of the florescent bulbs back into the lights that needed them back.
They made sure everything was back as it was when they first arrived and left the location around 12:45 am.
Evidence
2nd Floor – 10:49 pm
Two knocks can be heard in response to Noah asking for two knocks
2nd Floor – 10:49 pm
A tapping noise can be heard after an investigator asks a question
Conclusion
As an alumnus of Ripon College, Noah heard a lot of the stories surrounding the ghost lore of the college but didn’t have the ability to impartially investigate the claims he heard. Since Noah worked at Lane Library when he attended Ripon, he was particularly aware of the stories that circulated about the building. Having the opportunity to actually investigate these claims was an honor, and being able to share that experience with current students of the college was an added bonus.
During the investigation there were many personal experiences had by the students. However, many of these experiences were not captured on any recordable media. We were able to capture some of the tapping/knocking phenomena that were experienced by one of the groups on Level 2, which are included with this report. Although this seems to be an intelligent response to a question, these knocks by themselves are not enough to confirm any paranormal activity at the library. Further investigations would be required to form a body of evidence to be able to draw any conclusions about the purported paranormal activity at Lane Library.
PIM would like to thank Ripon College for allowing them to investigate Lane Library. We look forward to being able to come back to investigate other buildings on campus that are reported to be haunted.
