I went back to searching [the library shelves] and a few minutes later I had the same feeling. I turned aruond again, but nothing was there.

I had heard stories about the old stacks being haunted, but I didn't believe in ghosts--at least, then I didn't. I was in the old stacks about fifteen minutes before I found a book that I wanted to read. I put it under my arm, turned, and began walking toward the staircase. Suddenly I saw a figure slowly descending the stairs.

At first I thought it was another worker. Well, if it had been another worker, her legs were missing!

What I saw was the torso of a woman, dressed in an old-fashioned, high-neck maroon dress, gliding down the stairs. My blood turned to ice. I could see her face clearly. She had a very stern expression and was wearing old-fashioned, wire-rimmed glasses. Her hair was tied back in a tight bun.

The figure stopped at the bottom of the stairs and just floated there for a second or two looking at me. I was speechless. I couldn't move.

Then the figure disappeared. I ran up the steps and out of the old stacks as fast as I could. I wasn't going to stay there one more second.

From then on, I never went into the old stacks again unless someone else was with me!"