Programming Librarian

Image from “Harry Potter’s World: Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine”

National Library of Medicine

Connecting Harry Potter’s World with Real World Science

Angela Thullen | March 20, 2009

The ALA Public Programs Office, in cooperation with the National Library of Medicine (NLM), announces a new small format traveling exhibition to libraries, “Harry Potter’s World: Renaissance Science, Magic, and Medicine.” Public, academic (university, college and community college), and medical libraries may apply by May 1 to host the banner exhibition by downloading an application.

Using materials from the NLM’s History of Medicine collections, the exhibition explores Harry Potter’s world, its roots in Renaissance science, and the ethical questions that affected not only the wizards in J.K. Rowling’s books, but also the historical thinkers featured in the series. Exhibition panels feature the works of 15th- and 16th-century alchemists, naturalists, and occultists, and explore the intersection between the Harry Potter novels an Renaissance thinkers, lore, and practices. Find out more about the exhibit, including educational resources.

Find even more opportunities for programming featuring themes of science and medicine in the new traveling exhibitions section of the National Library of Medicine Web site. ALA has collaborated with NLM on two past exhibitions, both of which proved to be quite popular with library audiences: Changing the Face of Medicine: Celebrating America’s Women Physicians, and Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature.

Learn more about traveling exhibition opportunities.

Angela Thullen is Program Officer/Communications for the ALA Public Programs Office.

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