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Young witches and wizards, put away your brooms and wands and go to bed early this week to prepare for Friday’s late-night Harry Potter parties.

The much-anticipated release at 12:01 a.m. Saturday of J.K. Rowling’s sixth book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, has area bookstore and library staffs busy preparing for after-hours parties.

Most plan to either re-open Friday evening, or stay open long past their usual closing hours — until midnight and later — to begin handling the huge demand from both young people and a growing number of adults for the latest edition of the hugely popular series.

Chris Kozak, media relations officer for the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, says after seeing how much fun bookstores were having with Harry Potter pre-release parties, they jumped in and hosted the library’s first after-hours festivities in 2003 with the release of Rowling’s fifth book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

Most places are planning youth or family-oriented games and activities including costume and look-alike contests, fortune tellers, magicians, trivia, and all encourage customers and guests to arrive dressed as favorite characters in the book.

Below is a sampling of area Harry Potter activities which begin on Friday:

Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 4940 Monroe St.: “Midnight Magic” party. Time: 9 p.m. Friday; book sales begin at 12:01 a.m. Saturday. Procedure: Free tickets to purchase the book will be distributed beginning at 9 in the morning. Customers must have a ticket to purchase a book at the party. Customers who pre-ordered a book must also have a ticket to secure their place in line to receive their book. Information: 419-472-6164.

Borders, 5100 Monroe St. (at Westfield Shoppingtown Franklin Park): “Midnight Magic” party. Time: 9 p.m. Friday; book sales begin at 12:01 a.m. Sturday. Procedure: Customers go to registration table to collect a number. At midnight blocks of numbered groups will be called to the register to purchase a book. Information: 419-474-3704.

Main Branch of the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library, 325 Michigan St.: “Harry Potter’s Midnight Magic.” Time: 10 p.m. Friday to 12:15 a.m. Procedure: Limited free tickets available at the Main Branch. Must have ticket to enter. Quanity: About two hundred books will be available to check out. Information: 419-259-5381.

Way Public Library, 101 East Indiana Ave., Perrysburg: “The Harry Potter Party.” Time: 10:30 p.m. Friday until shortly after midnight.

Procedure: A maze-style set-up of children’s activities are planned. At 12:01 a.m. books can be checked out. According to Janel Molyneux, assistant director of Way, 20 books were ordered by the library; one will be given away in a drawing, 10 have been previously placed on order, and nine will be available according to the luck of the draw that morning. Information: 419-874-3135.

Fireside Books, 7111 Orchard Centre Dr., Holland: “Harry Potter Party” Time: 11 p.m. Friday until last sale; sales and distribution begin after midnight. Procedure: Customers with pre-orders are asked to bring their receipts, and new customers will go directly to the register. Information: 419-865-0013.

Reading Railroad — A Children’s Book Shop, 6600 Sylvania Ave., Sylvania. Friday. “Who is the Half-Blood Prince? parking lot party.” Time: 11 p.m. Friday until last sale; sales and distribution begin after midnight.

Procedure: Once customers arrive they will get a ticket; beginning at 12:01 a.m. numbered ticketholders will be called to the register to purchase copies of the book. Information: 419-882-4944.

Bedford branch of the Monroe County Library System, 8575 Jackman Rd., Temperance, Mich.: “Welcome Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Party.” Time: 8 p.m. Friday until shortly after midnight. Procedure: pre-ordered books will be distributed by Bedford Friends of the Library.

While many activities are planned, including a look-alike contest and games, the Harry Potter book will not be available to check out from the library early Saturday morning.

Pre-reserves, over 90 thus far, are being taken to check out the book within a few days of the release. Information: 734-847-6747.

Washington Branch Library, 5560 Harvest Lane. Time: 9 a.m.-noon Saturday.

Format: For ages 10 and older, there will be crafts and treats, as long as supplies last, to celebrate the new Harry Potter book. Information: 419-259-5330.

Contact Rhonda B. Sewell at: rsewell@theblade.com or 419-724-6101.

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