The Greater Victoria Public Library is preparing for a resurgence of Potter mania now that the most famous boy in literary history is back in another book.
Thirty copies of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child — a script for a play being performed in London’s West End — will be up for grabs Sunday at Langford’s Goudy branch at 1 p.m.
The book has been shipped to stores around the world, but can’t be sold until Sunday. Many booksellers, including some in Victoria, are planning to open late on Saturday and make their first sales of the book by 12:01 a.m. Sunday.
For those who prefer their books borrowed, the library will circulate 15 copies to patrons at the top of a hold list of about 220. Another 15 are “Fastreads,” with a 14-day borrowing limit. Colouring sheets will be available for little wizards along with a life-size cutout of Cursed’s cover as a photo backdrop.
Another 31 copies will be available by mid-week, said library communications officer Jessica Woollard. As Fastread copies are returned, they’ll be distributed across the library’s 11 branches.
The original Potter series is in high demand, Woollard said. “Every single print copy in English of the original seven books is out right now.”
The library has the complete series in English, French, Spanish and Chinese.
The eighth Potter book focuses on Harry’s youngest son, Albus, in first year at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Ebook versions of Cursed will be available via the library’s mobile app.
Patrons of the Vancouver Island Regional Library will have to wait until Tuesday. The system is stocking 42 copies for 39 communities including Sooke and Sidney/North Saanich, with holds approaching 200. “The first thing staff will do on Tuesday morning is open the boxes and distribute them to the branches where the holds are on the books,” said Jamie Anderson, director of library services.
