Article published July 10, 2005
Toledo-area libraries and bookstores schedule Potter parties
By RHONDA B. SEWELL
BLADE STAFF WRITER
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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