Harry Potter Exhibit Runs Out of Magic

By Tyler McNeill

After gaining millions of fans worldwide, Harry Potter ran out of magic in the Marvin Library as “Harry Potter’s World” failed to attract many students.

The exhibit, subtitled “Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine,” explored Harry Potter’s roots in the Renaissance traditions and ethics, and was brought to Hudson Valley by the National Library of Medicine.

Brenda Hazard, who has been the director of the Marvin Library for seven years, proposed the exhibit. Hazard joked, “Unlike Harry Potter, I hope I’m here for more than seven [years].” The exhibit, recently taken down, was up for five weeks.

The display, composed of seven parts, almost spanned the width of the atrium wall and separated fact from fiction in the seven-book series.

“[The National Library of Medicine] took a piece from popular culture and turned it into an exhibit they could tie into medicine and health sciences” said Hazard.

The library director requested the exhibit nearly a year ago. “Originally when I requested it, it was fully booked – no pun intended,” Hazard joked. “There was an opening and fortunately it happened to coincided with the science center opening”.

The exhibit’s presence in the library did not elicit a response proportional to its national popularity nor Harry Potter’s popularity.

“I don’t know if it’s the location. I don’t know if it’s when [the exhibit] arrived, or maybe people don’t make the connection that it’s Harry Potter because there’s not a picture of Daniel Radcliffe,” said Hazard.

Marvin Library café regulars gave the exhibit mixed reviews. Some complaints were made about its inconspicuousness.

“I didn’t notice it at first to be honest… it’s the color and the lighting” said Khaledah Seraj, a UAlbany student.

“I really like Harry Potter so it intrigued me,” said Carleen Sullivan, liberal arts major. “I think they should’ve put the characters up there so [students] would know it’s about Harry Potter.”

Although 73,000 students and employees have entered the Marvin Library during September alone, Sullivan says, “Most students just go upstairs or downstairs”.

Others pined for a simpler exhibit.

“It’s aesthetically pleasing but that’s about it” said Rory McGuiyre. “It’s information overload. If they moved different pieces of the exhibit [over campus] like the Albert Einstein [exhibit] it would probably attract more students.”

“It’s all just a bunch of writing. Nobody is going to stop to see it. It’s interesting but you shouldn’t have to scavenge to find it,” said Nasibah Elmi, political science major.

While Hudson Valley students might have been unfazed by the exhibit, Harry Potter still has the power to draw people in.

“The day [the exhibit] was supposed to be here, we had two young women who aren’t HVCC students drive here to see the Harry Potter exhibit. The fact that these two young women made this special trip says a lot about the appeal of the wonderful work of literature,” Hazard said.

Hazard herself is an avid Harry Potter fan, and explained how the series impacted her close to home: “I have 5 kids. My oldest son is twenty. When he was six I started reading the first Harry Potter book to him and my younger son. That was the bedtime story for a month. They loved it. They didn’t want to go to sleep at the end of each chapter”. She continued, “I have younger daughters. That was their first chapter book and they keep reading them over and over again to this day.”

She revealed what makes Harry Potter fans spellbound “The stories are so rich, [with] complex storylines with endearing characters with great appeal to girls who generally read at younger ages, boys too and even parents as well”.

“This wasn’t just stuff [J.K Rowling] made up, but [if] you dig into it, it’s based on reality,” said Hazard.

Although the Harry Potter exhibit did not match Hazard’s expectations, she does not regret having the Harry Potter exhibit.

“I’m a strong proponent that libraries provide informal opportunities for learning,” said Hazard. She believes the exhibit space “Opens your world up a bit.”

The next exhibit will be hosted in February and March of 2014, exploring the life of Frederick Douglass.