“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” in the Restricted Section

It would seem that libraries in the US have been taking tips from Madam Pince and her restricted section of the library at Hogwarts as the AP is reporting tonight on the strict rules imposed on libraries this summer in preparing for the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The article states that libraries “must limit the number of employees who handle the books before the July 21 release and provide names and contact information for each branch manager, according to the contract from Scholastic Inc.”
Facing possible fines and loss of access to future embargoed titles, libraries are signing contracts that say early leaks and releases of the highly anticipated last book to the Harry Potter series “will cause irreparable harm to Scholastic and the author, J.K. Rowling, and that monetary damages will be inadequate to compensate for violations.”

Reps from Scholastic say they are merely enforcing author J.K.Rowling’s wish for a “magical moment” and, as says Kyle Good:

“When you have a print run of 12 million books that you’re sending out into the world, just in the U.S. alone, and you do want to preserve a very special moment for children, you take whatever precautions you need.”

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be released July 21, 2007.