Each October, sixth graders and children of Baylor faculty and staff are invited to an evening of mischief and magic at the annual Hogwarts After Dark event hosted by the Hedges Library staff.
The library was decked out with decorations and fully immersive Harry Potter-themed stations such as Ollivander's Wand Craft Shop, Pot a Mandrake and Harry Potter Rock Painting, a Sorting Hat Ceremony, and a half-dozen others. To avoid detection by muggles, everyone was asked to use the entrance located in the Hedges Library Lobby on Platform 9 ¾ via personalized invitations with a red wax seal.
Connecting with students through bright displays, creative themes and interactive experiences is a priority for the staff. Reading librarian Rhonda Sixto says this type of programming is designed to get students into the library. “I feel so blessed to be at a school that prioritizes literacy, values great library programming, and sees what we do as being important to the overall wellbeing of our community,” says Ms. Sixto.
Head librarian Lauren Callihan emphasizes that the Hedges Library is not a “quiet or silent” library. “One of the special things about Baylor is we have managed to keep a traditional library where we work with students on reading and finding books, whereas some school libraries have moved to a media center or a learning commons.”