Harry Potter: A History of Magic celebrates the 20th anniversary of the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, combining centuries-old British Library treasures with original material from Bloomsbury’s and J.K. Further details of The Mitchell Library’s Harry Potter: A History of Magic exhibition and programme of activities can be found at The displays have been developed by the British Library in collaboration with public libraries through the Living Knowledge Network, an innovative partnership between the British Library and 22 major public libraries across the UK, and the National Library of Scotland and the National Library of Wales.

Library visitors who are keen to delve a little deeper into The Mitchell Library’s magical collections will have the chance to further explore treasures including The Alchemist’s Handbook from 1960 and the Calendar of Cases of Witchcraft in Scotland 1510 – 1727, through a series of Mitchell Curious events to be held on Wednesday lunchtimes throughout the exhibition. The Mitchell Library’s local connections to magic and folklore will also be showcased, and will include a privately bound 1898 copy of History of Black Magic, Gaelic Incantations from 1895, a facsimile of Audubon’s Birds of America - one of the greatest works of ornithology containing life-sized, hand coloured depictions of 1065 North American birds – and a facsimile of the manuscript from the Bargarran Witch Trials (1696 – 97) alongside a number of rare and interesting items from the Mitchell Library’s occult collection. Rowling and Bloomsbury’s own collections. The series of displays across the UK will include specially designed panels which are inspired by Harry Potter: A History of Magic, showing images of rare books, manuscripts and magical objects featured in the British Library’s exhibition, as well as images of material from J.K. Displays will launch simultaneously in 20 public libraries across the UK in tandem with the Harry Potter: A History of Magic exhibition at the British Library in London. From Friday 20 October 2017, visitors will be able to discover fascinating facts about the History of Magic at The Mitchell Library.

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