Harry Potter Comes to O'Fallon Library

If you've ever wished you could play Quidditch or attend Hogwarts, then you might be a die-hard Harry Potter fan and in that case will definitely want to stop by the before the end of May. The St. Charles City-County Library District presents the national touring exhibit "Harry Potter's World: Renaissance Science, Magic and Medicine." The display was brought to the library by the National Libraries of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, and will be on display at the Middendorf-Kredell until May 21. 

Denise Ulett, the Consumer Health Librarian who wrote the proposal to bring in the exhibit, said the library was on a two-year wait list. 

"This was perfect timing because of all the excitement about Harry Potter between the release of the last two movies," Ulett said.  Ulett added that the exhibit's attention to Renaissance science, magic and medicine coincides with the library's special collection of consumer health documents. 

The exhibit's grand opening event was held April 16 from 4 to 6 p.m. Visitors were invited to meet a knight in shining armor, taste butter beer and craft wands like Harry's.  The event also featured a broomstick photo booth and  a drawing for a complete set of Harry Potter books.

Throughout the rest of the month, Potter fans will have the opportunity to guess the number golden snitches hidden throughout the library for a chance to win the complete Harry Potter book collection.

You can still register now for additional "Harry Potter's World" programs for adults, teens and kids in April and May. 

• Trivia Challenge: Teens can test their knowledge of the Harry Potter series by playing the Scene It Trivia game on Friday, April 29 from 4-5:30 p.m. 
• Hogwarts Academy: Children in second through fifth grades can spend an hour making crafts and doing activities just like those in Harry's classes at Hogwarts on Monday May 2, 4:30-5:30 p.m. 
• Fantasy Writing with Chad Odom from 4-5:30 p.m.: Teens are invited to meet the author of "The Last Archide," a fantasy novel written when the author was just 10 years old. Odom will talk about his experience and offer advice for publishing your own fantasy novel. 
• Movie Matinees: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is showing Saturday May 7 at 1 p.m.; Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is showing Saturday, May 14 at 1 p.m. and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is showing on Saturday, May 21 at 1 p.m.