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Just because we work for HarperCollins doesn’t mean that we only read our own books – we frequently exchange books with our colleagues in other publishing houses.  That being said, there are some die-hard Potter fans here in our office (Me!  Me!  Me!) and we’re all completely psyched for the upcoming HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART II.

So while I’m waiting with bated breath for the last movie to come out (July 15th!), I have a few suggestions of Harry Potter read-alikes (click through to read synopses and additional info).  Feel free to share this with the kids in your library!

• FALCON QUINN AND THE BLACK MIRROR by Jennifer Finney Boylan (The second book, FALCON QUINN AND THE CRIMSON VAPOR is out now)
• THE FAMILIARS by Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson (The second book, THE FAMILARS #2: SECRETS OF THE CROWN is on-sale this September – stop by our booth at ALA Annual to get a galley!)
• THE LAST PHOENIX by Linda Chapman and Steve Cole
• THE MAGIC THIEF series by Sarah Prineas
• SEPTIMUS HEAP series by Angie Sage (The latest book is DARKE)
• WARRIORS series by Erin Hunter

What do you recommend for kids who have devoured the Harry Potter series and are looking for more of the same?

Also, check out these Harry Potter Read Alike booklists from your colleagues in libraries around the country:

• Finger Lakes Library System
• Allen County Public Library
• Harris County Public Library
• Boston Public Library
• New Brunswick Free Public Library
• Cuyahoga County Public Library

And because we’re just THAT excited, here’s the preview for the last movie, HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, PART II:

Last year, I noted how the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library and others analyzed the user experience in the catalog and began using MeeboMe as a way to provide a path out of the “no results” dead end. Now we have another great example from the Allen County Public Library of re-examining dead ends in the catalog

Hi-Tech Hi-Touch: A Sirsi Patron Material Request Form

“The point of need that interested me was to make a material request form available for the patron when they could not find their search item….

The real meat of the processing is handled by the findit.php code. This is a reentrant form that does all the validation and processing. If you would like a copy of the code just email and I will send it to you.” [ACPL’s Innovation through Technology]

So basically, Sean Robinson at ACPL added a purchase request form to the search results page of the catalog so that if the Library doesn’t own the title the patron is looking for, she can immediately submit a purchase request. It’s these seemingly minor improvements that provide a more robust service in a place patrons don’t normally find a librarian. Why our vendors can’t think of these things is beyond me, but it’s great to see librarians like Sean taking the initiative to implement them.