Potter weathers Pottermania Library waves wand: Transforms itself into Hogwarts instantly
DOWNTOWN School is starting early this year for Harry Potter fanatics.
The boy wizard madness invades the Santa Monica Public Library again this weekend,but not in the form of a bulky 784-page book.
Exactly two weeks after the seventh and final installment of the tremendously successful series was released nationwide, parts of the downtown main library will be transformed into a replica of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry today, reflecting the educational institution depicted in the children’s book.
On Sunday, the library’s youth services division will host a family discussion on “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” which has been well received by both critics and readers since its July 21 release.
The two activities wrap up a summer-long series of Potter presidings at the library to celebrate the conclusion of the popular movie and book franchise. The wild-for- Harry events included discussion groups where fans of all ages gave their predictions on what would transpire in the final book; a nightly movie marathon where the first four films were screened each night of the second week in July; and a contest in which students grades six through 12 gave their predictions on which character would meet their maker in the final book.
“We wanted to do something big for the kids since we have a new library and wanted to take advantage of our facilities,” said Erica Tang, the youth adult librarian.
The Potter activities have proven to be a success for the public library, which has had trouble keeping the last book in stock since it came out. Before the book’s release, the library had close to 150 holds for 69 available copies. There are still 90 reservations remaining, said Shana Johnson, the youth services librarian.
“The Harry Potter series sort of lends itself to extensive programming like this,” Johnson said.
Johnson began reading the series when “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” — the fourth book — came out. Since then, the librarian has grown to become a Harry Potter fan,attending one of the midnight parties the night before the seventh book was sold in stores.
“I don’t know if there will be something else to come out to top the Harry Potter series,” Johnson said.“It revolutionized the children publishing series.”
Several community rooms in the library will be transformed to mimic the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in “A Day at Hogwarts”event today, which is now closed to the public because of limited seating. The students will be sorted into different “houses” — as featured in the book — and will attend three classes that are featured in the book. The classes include a Karate instruction class called “The Defense Against the Dark Arts;” an “Herbology” class where a volunteer will take kids on a tour to learn about different plants at the library; and “Divination,” where the children will learn about palmistry.
“Obviously, we can’t do spells,” Tang said.
The book discussion on Sunday has drawn some interest from Potter fans, though some have called into say they can’t attend because they haven’t finished reading the book, Tang said.
The discussion groups will be moderated by Tang and Johnson.
“I’m still impressed by (J.K.) Rowling’s ability to create this magical world,” Tang said. “I had a lot of theories like everyone else that didn’t come true.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 4, 2007. Read the original PDF.