Potter challenges romantic fiction in library league. JK Rowling has soared up the lending league to mount a challenge to Catherine Cookson’s dominance of the library world. Her Harry Potter book Goblet Of Fire has become the third most loaned title in Britain. And in a related article, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire …read more!

Three from the BBC: A Muggle’s guide to Harry Potter. If you have resisted the urge to delve into Harry Potter’s world – but don’t want to risk derision – here is BBC News Online’s essential guide to bluffing your way deftly around the subject. “In my wildest fantasy I could not have imagined anything …read more!

The people who huddled around tables Wednesday evening to discuss Harry Potter were anything but children interrupting each other to share what they loved most about J.K. Rowling’s books. They were, in fact, adults huddled around tables graciously taking turns telling each other about their fascination with Harry Potter (from The Steamboat Pilot). Wizard magician …read more!

Also, this is a little late – on Dark Horizons yesterday: Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets: Filming takes place on Huskeiran, an island off Scotland’s West Coast in April. Anyone have an idea what they would be filming there? Let us know.

Much thanks to a reader WhoMustNotBeNamed (though is nothing like Voldemort) for sending us a brand spankin’ new rumour: that Christian Coulson (that’s a link to the pic that YouKnowWho sent, by the way) has been cast as the young Tom Riddle. We’re awaiting word/confirmation/etc, but he certainly looks the part. Here’s his IMDB profile. …read more!

The actor who plays Argus Filch in the Harry Potter film is helping raise money to save York City (from Ananova). Good things come in small packages. Especially when they’re in big movies. Not since Dorothy rudely dropped in on the Munchkins have there been so many high-profile opportunities for actors who are short of …read more!

Amazon is finally selling action figures for CoS, including Hermione in semi-polyjuiced cat form and Malfoy covered with slime. They have also been reported on the shelves of Wal-Mart, where you can also find Fred & George Quidditch figures – but no Ginny or Riddle figures have been presented yet. Thanks to [email protected] for these …read more!

Well, I’m proud to announce that The Leaky Cauldron won Best Topical Weblog in the 2002 Bloggies. I’m even more shocked than when we were nominated. I’d like to sincerely thank Rhiannon Llewellyn, a recent but excellent addition to the TLC staff. She has tirelessly updated the site on a daily basis while myself and …read more!

Leading games publisher Electronic Arts reported a solid jump in earnings and revenue Wednesday, buoyed by strong sales of games related to the Harry Potter movie and “The Sims.” The article begins, “Of the five films most likely to be nominated for best picture in this year’s Oscar race only one is ‘Questionable’ in the …read more!

Just for fun; BBC television show Blue Peter instructs children on how to conjure up an enchanted castle that looks just like Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and also how to make a magical Wizard’s hat. (Thanks to The Snitch for the article.)