In the heart of downtown Flint, the University of Michigan–Flint’s Thompson Library stands to the left of the mural, as a modern beacon of knowledge. Opened in October 1994, its sleek, contemporary design might seem an unlikely place for a haunting. Yet, the library’s vast collection of old books, artwork spanning decades, and countless memories of students and scholars create the perfect storm for something otherworldly to linger.

As you walk through the library’s silent stacks, you might feel a strange unease—a sense that you’re not alone. You’re right to be cautious. The librarians and staff who work here know the truth: Thompson Library is home to a ghost, a mysterious entity that moves through the stacks with the quiet determination of a scholar lost in time.

The legend of the Phantom Scholar began with Grant Burns, the library’s assistant director until his death in 2006. Grant was a man who loved books and the stories they contained, but even he was unnerved by what he encountered one late Saturday evening. As he made his final rounds, long after the last student had left, he heard it—a frantic rustling, like the pages of a book being turned at breakneck speed.

Grant assumed some overzealous student was hiding in the library, cramming for an exam. But when he searched the stacks, he found no one. The sound persisted, growing louder and more insistent, echoing off the walls. Yet, no matter where he looked, the source of the noise remained elusive. It was as if the very books themselves were alive, their pages flipping by unseen hands.

When Grant shared his experience with other staff members, he discovered he wasn’t alone. Many had heard the strange, ghostly rustling, though none could explain it. Some speculated that the ghost might be the spirit of a scholar from the old Flint Public Library, which once stood nearby. The Carnegie library, built in 1902, was demolished in 1960, but its memory lives on, perhaps in the form of a restless reader who never left.

One of the most chilling encounters happened to reference librarian Vera Anderson. She had always been skeptical of the stories, until one night in January 2016, when she was working alone in the darkened library. A sudden, loud bang echoed outside her office. Startled, Vera rushed out to find a large book lying in the middle of the floor.

This wasn’t a case of a book simply falling from a shelf. The sturdy, deep shelves made that nearly impossible. No, this book had flown—flung several feet into the center of the room. It landed on its spine, its pages fanned open, turning as if by an invisible breeze. But the air was still, and Vera felt a chill run down her spine. She knew then that she had met the library’s resident ghost.

The next day, Vera recounted her experience to Grant, who simply smiled and welcomed her to the ranks of those who had encountered the Phantom Scholar. Since Grant’s passing, some believe his spirit may now roam the library, joining forces with the mysterious page-turner in an eternal quest for knowledge.

So, the next time you find yourself in the Thompson Library, take a moment to listen. If you hear the sound of pages turning when no one is around, or if a book mysteriously moves from its place, don’t be alarmed. You might just be in the presence of Flint’s most dedicated, and most ghostly, scholar.