A question about vinyl record players, and records themselves for a newbie!?

[Joni Samuels]

Along with his record player. Except it used to belong to this huge big hi-fi unit, so I need an amplifier and speakers for it to play. But today I was bored and got it out, and plugged it in just to see if it actually works. I played some Blondie, and there was sound coming out but obviously because it doesn’t have built in speakers or an amp, it was reeeeally quiet. But anyway, I took it off and started listening to another vinyl but this time the needle like, caught on the record, and it wouldn’t spin.

Since I have NO clue about record players and vinyl, can someone tell me if this means I have to get a new stylus/needle? And also, what can I do about, when the record is playing and it gets to the end, my needle just like, drags across the record! I’m afraid it will scratch it! How can I stop this from happening?