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Muggles are counting down to 12:01 a.m., Saturday, July 21, when probably the most sought after series in my career as a librarian comes to its end.

Author J.K. Rowling assures us that the seventh installment of the wildly popular Harry Potter series, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” will provide a spellbinding finale and wind up the young wizard’s schooling at the infamous Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Tweens (grades 3-6) who are anxiously awaiting this next book are invited to attend NCPL’s Countdown to the End party on July 20 from 6-8 p.m. Those who wish can come in the costume of their preferred Potter character, be it Ron or Hermione, one of Harry’s best friends; Professor Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts; Rubeus Hagrid, the twice-as-tall teacher in the Care of Magical Creatures; He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named; or Harry himself.

While a game of Quidditch may be out of the question, we’ll substitute astounding party activities to pass the time, along with elaborate edibles like Bernie Botts Every Flavor Beans.

It has been nearly 10 years since we were first introduced to this young, skinny, bespectacled boy with the lightning-bolt shaped scar on his forehead in “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” When Rowling wrote that book, she intended it to be for an audience of children ages 9-11, particularly boys.

Fantasy fans in this age group were hooked, but it didn’t take long to realize the audience of admirers would span from young to old. And as Harry progresses through the grades at Hogwarts, the list of loyal readers continues to grow.

As soon as the release date of the latest Potter book was announced to the public last winter, fans started requesting that their name be put on the list of those waiting to check out one of the multiple copies NCPL would be purchasing. The books aren’t the only way to partake of the Potter phenomenon.

Books on CD will be available for those who prefer to listen along, and as of July 11, when “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” hits the theatres, the first five books will have been made into feature movies.

In case you are just now hearing about Harry Potter, or maybe you want a refresher before you read the Deathly Hallows, it’s not too late to start catching up on the magical pranks and misadventures, the eccentric characters and breathtaking excitement that Rowling has created.

There is still time to sign up for the library’s summer reading programs for children, teens and adults, and the library has copies of all the previous Harry Potter books available to add to your summer reading list. You still have time to put your name on our request list for book number seven as well. Just call 577-READ and we’ll be glad to help.

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