Blue banners fluttered amid the winter garden's columns, buffeted by the collective anticipation of more than a thousand impatient wizards.
Yet none of the librarians at the main branch of the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library seemed overly nervous by the gathering.
“We're not allowed to cast magic,” said neophyte magician Adam Reed, 19, waving his phoenix-feather wand erratically. “It's against muggle law.”
At last, at the stroke of midnight, a gong sounded, a cheer arose, and the first book of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - the fifth book in the Harry Potter series by author J.K. Rowling - was distributed by librarians into eager hands.
“It will take me three months to read this one,” said 9-year-old Colin Trala of Toledo. “The other books took me over a year to read, but I love them.”
Under library rules, he better read fast because he's allowed to keep the book for only 28 days.
In total, about 200 of the silver and blue-bound tomes were borrowed by the magicians.
Most of the rest of the library's 510 volumes were held for other library patrons who had previously reserved the book, though a few remained unclaimed because of a special library policy. All volumes not distributed last night will be available today at the downtown branch and everywhere else on Monday.
No spells were reported to be fired by wizards in attendance, though the library's own staff of wizard monitors remained wary of tricks.
“Some of the dark-arts wizards might be around,” said line monitor Lisa Green, watching the restless sorcerers as they darted among library tables set up for wand-making, tattoo infusing, and book reading.
In all, the series so far has sold about 200 million copies in five different languages. The last book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, released in July, 2000, was the fastest selling book in history.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, with its unprecedented 8.5 million initial print run - compared with 3.8 million for the Goblet of Fire - has broken every preorder record to date.
It also has some of the most poignant, mature plot points to date. Ms. Rowling said she was “in tears” about having to kill one of the series' main characters.
But the library's 165 years of service makes it the oldest book-magic trader in the area, and officials were overjoyed at the night's turnout.
“It's great to see people get excited about a book instead of a movie or video game,” said Margaret Danzinger, the library's deputy director. “And the volunteers are excited too.”
When asked whether he was nervous about performing in front of so many peers, Guest Master Wizard Andrew Martin, who was responsible for the night's only sanctioned magic show, shook his head confidently.
“It could be a tough crowd, but they're really infused with energy. They're asking for an extra show,” he said.
First Published June 21, 2003, 5:47 a.m.