Harry Potter Day at the Library!

Harry Potter Day at the Library!

Monday, 25 July 2022 12:13

by Suzanne Moore, Wilkes County Librarian

J K Rowling, author of the Harry Potter book series, celebrates her 57th birthday on July 31.  It is not only a special day for her, but for her character Harry who also was ‘born’ on this day (different year, of course).    Ms. Rowling is a British writer who invented the fantasy series about Harry Potter.  It is exciting to see her books translated into so many languages and sold to so many readers, both young and old.  There are 80 different translations of these books and sales are astronomical.  In 2007, when the seventh and final novel in the series was released, 11 million copies sold within the first day! 

The Harry Potter Series is definitely a runaway success and has also been made into movies and video games.  When publishers first released them, there was a lot of hype in response about the danger of reading these books for fear that they would ‘promote spells and witchcraft.’  There is no doubt that reading these books, like any other fantasy, is definitely an escape from reality.  And reality these days is often pretty scary.  Just like any other book, you can list the pros and cons, the good and bad, and the conversations that spring up in response to the books can be used as object lessons, as well as a study in character growth.  It can’t be denied, that after two decades and the ever-growing popularity of Rowling’s books, the Harry Potter series, have now been relegated as beloved children’s classics. 

In honor of Harry Potter, Wilkes County Public Library is celebrating with belated birthday activities on August 2.  The library will transform its meeting room, for the entire day, into a game room.  There will be a library-wide scavenger hunt and an overall day of fun.

Visitors (all ages) are invited to come in costume, and at 11:00 a.m. costumes will be judged to win Harry Potter themed gift-bags.  Sign-ups are required for a Herbology 101 class, offered by ‘Professor Sprout,' at 2:00 p.m.  Drop-in the children’s library or call 336.838.2818 to register.   Students participating in the Herbology Class will learn about various herbs and plant small pots to take home.  Instead of our typical Art in the Park activities, a special art class will take place in the library at 4:00 p.m.

Also, during the first few weeks of August, Wilkes Library is hosting a School Supply Drive.  Drop-off supplies for student between August 1 – 15.  These items will be given to students in need, to help them get their new school year off to a good start.

Don’t miss all the fun . . . we hope to see you at the library!