Claresholm library receives special award

By Rob Vogt
The Claresholm Public Library has received a prestigious award for its popular “Harry Potter Experience”.
The Chinook Arch Regional Library System recently presented its 2024 READ Awards based on excellence in library service, collaboration, innovation, community benefit, and transferability to other libraries. This year’s awards were focused on the criteria of how libraries are attracting patrons back into their buildings.
“It feels great to be recognized for a program that was nine months in the making,” said Jay Sawatzky, manager of the Claresholm Public Library.
The library received a $200 Recognition Award for the “Harry Potter Experience”.
It was noted that since 2022, the Claresholm Public Library has hosted the “Harry Potter Experience” on the Saturday nearest Halloween, which coincides with other community events and creates a vibrant town night.
Attendance saw 250 people in the inaugural year and reached 174 in 2023. The event features photo ops against a Hogwarts Dining Room backdrop and an oversized cardboard image of the enchanted car, offering the illusion of flying with Hedwig.
Activities included wand-making, Bertie Botts Beans, a talking sorting hat, and clip-on ties in house colours.
Staff transformed the library shelves with fake brick sheets to resemble Hogwarts and demonstrated magic tricks.
In the second year, attendees received feather pens, Golden Snitch lapel pins, and chocolate frogs.
It also saw a costume contest with themed prizes.
The event has garnered community enthusiasm, with volunteers eager to participate in the future, and has left attendees enchanted.
In 2024, the library will introduce the “Ghostbusters” experience.