Issue date: 10/14/09 Section: News

Flags from fictional schools Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw hang behind Danielle Lentz, a senior speech pathology major, as she works security. The flags are just some of the many items from J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series on display in the exhibit "Harry Potter's World: Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine" in Booth Library. (Samantha Bilharz/The Daily Eastern News)

The Booth Library exhibit provides a view into the wizardry world with a muggle perspective.

The "Harry Potter's World: Renaissance Science, Magic and Medicine" opening reception will be held at 7 p.m. today in the Marvin Foyer of Booth Library.

The reception comes complete with wizard treats like Pumpkin Cookies, Every Flavor Beans, Licorice Wands, Crisps and Butter Beer Punch.

Following the reception will be the opening program by English professor David Raybin "Character, Structure, Perspective ... and a Castle: A Medievalist Reads" at 7:30 p.m. in the West Reading Room.

Raybin will discuss in his presentation the characteristics that make the world of Hogwarts especially appealing to readers interested in the Middle Ages.

Raybin shows how the "Harry Potter" series isn't a fad with his upper-level English course on J.K. Rowling.

The "Harry Potter's World" exhibit is on display until Nov. 14.

Booth applied and won the competitive exhibit from the National Library of Medicine.

The library has combined many exhibits in one space to create a whole room devoted to the topic.

The exhibits range from "Harry Potter" presentations of Quidditch, cover art, Hogwarts and J.K. Rowling's life, to a display that shows the roots of magic, science and medicine that were the foundations Rowling built on.

Displayed in the Ballenger Teachers Center is one exhibit that helps readers who have finished the "Harry Potter" series and do not know what to read next.

The Renaissance World of "Harry Potter" display features early alchemists, botanists and doctors, who are part of the books, in the Marvin Foyer.

Nicholas Flamel, a famous wizard featured in the book series, is a real life alchemist whose legend suggests he actually discovered the philosopher's stone.

Stacey Knight-Davis, a reference services librarian who is helping to manage the exhibits, said the library decided on what to exhibit by looking to see what's traveling and what's popular.

More information on the exhibit can be found on the Booth Library Web site.

James Roedl can be reached at 581-7942 or jmroedl@eiu.edu

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