NC Branch Library Wins First Copy of Signed Potter

-- Library Journal, 7/21/2005

Most libraries across the country have welcomed Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, with several holding late-night celebrations and other hoopla, but the luckiest library must be the West Asheville Branch of the Asheville-Buncombe Library System, NC. It was the winner among the more than 9,000 public libraries that entered a sweepstakes for the first author-signed American copy. Due to the overwhelming response to the sweepstakes, publisher Scholastic announced 49 additional prizes. Author J.K. Rowling agreed to sign 49 bookplates to be placed inside special library-bound editions of the book presented to one public library sweepstakes participant from each of the other 49 states. The West Asheville branch also received $2000 worth of books from Scholastic.