Download I Love Libraries Web badges for your site.

Gamers! Visit I Love Libraries at Gen Con 2008, booth #1430.

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month, and NBA superstar and author Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the honorary chair for the annual event. Learn more on the I Love Libraries Library Card Sign-Up Month page.

How do I prove the value of libraries? Learn the answer to that and more on I Love Libraries' Ask the Librarian page.

Harry Potter Late-Night Celebrations

Some libraries are throwing fabulous parties late at night to release the first copies of the new book at midnight.

Note: Response to ILoveLibraries.org's original story about Harry Potter themed library events was so great that we've continued to collect links to individual programs that have taken place or will take place in the coming weeks. Items added after the original release of this article are marked with a red "NEW!" If you want to share your library's events, visit the ILoveLibraries.org "Libraries in the News" blog and add your event to the comments.

• The Newton Public Library in Newton, IA is opening its doors at 11:30pm. Patrons on the waiting list can be among the first to check a copy out, but the library is also partnering with a local bookstore to sell copies right there at the party. Everyone is encouraged to come dressed as their favorite characters from the books.
• The C. Burr Artz Public Library, in Frederick, MD, has created a gala event for the evening of the book release. From 6-9pm, entertainers will dazzle patrons outside with stilt-walking, fire-breathing, and unicycle stunts, with local restaurants selling dinner. At 9pm, the library doors open to reveal an array of choices for all ages, from a Quidditch videogame tournament, to a screening of past Potter movies, to an array of Hogwarts-style classes. A local bookstore will sell discount copies of the new book at midnight.
• The Milwaukee Public Library in Milwaukee, WI is also running an all-night festival of Harry Potter excitement, including mock O.W.L. (Ordinary Wizarding Level) tests, rare horticulture demonstrations, live music, fortune telling, and real potion-making. Here, too, the book will be available at midnight for a limited number of patrons to borrow, and more for purchase from a local bookstore. NEW! The photo at left shows the exterior of the Milwaukee Public Library on the night of the celebration!
  
• The Seattle Public Library in Seattle, WA is offering a free concert by wizard rockers Harry & the Potters.
• NEW! The Nampa Public Library in Nampa, ID, turned their library into a local version of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry on July 21-22, hosting a late-night release party complete with costumes, movie screenings, refreshments, and even Quidditch practice.
• NEW! The Salt Lake City Main Library in Salt Lake City, UT, hosted a fabulous party on Saturday night, July 21. The library square transformed into a Quidditch field, adults and children dressed in costume to attend Hogwarts classes, and magical shops in the library sold everything from magic tricks to wizard snacks.